American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-03-14
Work and Worry.

men and brain workers generally have
often inadequate notions in regard to the
conditions Of healthy work of the instru
ment which they employ. "Other men,"
says one of Burton's favorite old authors,
look to their tools; a painter will wash
his pencils; smith will look to his
hammer, anvil, forge; a husbandman will
mind his plowshare, and grind his
Ratchet if it be dull; falconer or hunts
man will have special care of his hawks,
horses and dogs; musician will string
and unstring his lutte; only scholars neg
lect that instrument which they daily use,
and by which they range over all the
world" But there is an essential differ
ence between the two classes of cases
| here contrasted, which constitutes some
sort of apology for the brain-worker. A
handicraftsman is able to observe at a
glance the very first indications of his
tools getting the worse for wear; but it is
by no means SO easy matter to tell at
what point the brain has done enough of
work. The indications of muscular ex-
haustion after labor are quite unmistaka-
| bic, and the demand for rest correspond
| ingly imperious. One cannot afford to
disregard the mOnitions of jaded body and
aching limbs. But the signs of brain
| WEAKNESS in a healthy worker are by no
means uniform or well defined, nor are
they SO urgent as to give rise to
a peremptory demand for repose. The
healthy thinker has seldom any feel
ing of mental fatigue referable to
the brain, analogous to the uneasy
sensation from wearied muscle. The long
catalogue of symptoms familiar to ply
sicians, of exhaustion consequent on
mental strain, develop themselves
only after a prolonged course of
overwork. They tell, in fact, not that the
brain is tired merely, but that it is dis
eased. 1t is this absence OF any unmis-
takably prohibitory sensation which
makes it somewhat difficult to determine
the point at which, for the time, mental
work should be stopped.
The nearest thing to an Indication that
the brain has been working rather more
than is good for it is the persistence in
, the mind during the period of rest of the
thoughts which have engaged it during
, its period of activity. After good spell
of hard work the brain-worker is often
tormented by finding it difficult, all at
once, to turn off the steam. His work
day thoughts will intrude themselves, in
spite of every effort to keep them out.
A symptom of mental exhaustion quite
allied in kind to the last, but indicative
of a greater degree of mental strain, is
persistent wakefulness. The physiology
cal cause of this condition is well under
stood. During the excessive labor of the
brain there is an increased flow of blood
, to the working organ, the vessels of the
head and neck becoming distended with
blood, as is shown by the flushing of the
face. If this condition of distension is
long continued the vessels are apt to lose
) the power of contracting when mental
activity is diminished. Hence arises the
| impossibility of fulfilling The physical
e conditions of sleep, the most important of
which is the diminution of the flow of
e vital fluid to the brain.
The fact, well known to every medical
t man, that persistent sleeplessness is fire.
: Quently the precursor or initiatory stage
: of several most intractable maladies,
4 physical and mental, always invests the
f presence of this indication of mental over
: | strain with grave interest. But continued
l course of excessive mental labor generally
4 manifests its effects on the mind itself in
various ways, all more or less premonitory
of approaching collapse. The brain
e worker begins to perceive an unwOnted
4 want of clearness in his ideas; work be-
} comes gradually less easy to him; he is
, alarmed at sudden awkward failures OF
e memory; a feeling of surfeit DISCUS.
: will steal over him in the midst of work
e he becomes unable long to fix his atten
: ton, and latterly feels as if all mental en-
(; ergy was crushed out of him. If these
: warnings of an overweight brain, now
, speaking distinctly with the tongue OF
q disease, are disregarded, the wonder fire.
i ton follows, but that it should have been
s SO long delayed. What particular form
e the Nemesis shall assume-whether OF
:, physical or mental disease-will be deter
s mined by accidents partly of personal
q habit and temperament, and partly of in
e herited predisposition. 1t is noteworthy
b however, that the common opinion that
+ excessive mental occupation gravitates
q toward insanity does not appear to be
j verified by facts. Indeed, one of the fore
most of living physicians doubts whether
S alienation of mind is ever the result oi
s simple mental overstran. 1t is to phys
s ical, not to mental, arrangement that ex
: cessive work of the brain generally gives
i; rise.
It 1t is not, however, the mere quantity o.
brain-work which is the chief factor in
n the production of disease. The emOtiona
n condition under which the work is per
}, formed is far more important matter. A
d man of trained mental habits can beal
; with safety an almost incredible amour
of brain-toil, provided he is permitted Il
o work without distraction or excitement
If in the absence of disquieting cares anC
3, anxiefies 1t is not brain work, in fact
? that kills. but brain-worry.
It That the effects OF worry are more to b.
e dreaded than those of simple hard worl
g Is also evident from noting the classes o
q persons who suffer most from the effect
of mental Oversirain. The case-book o
n the physician shows that il is the specula
!. tor, the betting man, the railway manager
|. the great merchant, the superintendent o
large manufacturing or commercial