Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1876-03-09
The Engine Of the Body.

A writer in book called the SECRETS
Of the Sanctum," says:
The brain may fairly be llkened to the
steam engine of large mill. 1t Is the
engine of the body, and the nerves through
which it directs all the movements of the
body are its belts and shafts. When the
sseam-engine of the mill is doing its le-
gitimate work, disseminating power
through the great building, sending the
belts lying on their endless rounds, and
whirling the heavy shafts and wheels. its
action is normal and healthy, and, if
may be allowed to compare it with a liv-
ing thing, 1t feels rather better when night
comes in consequence of its exercise. But
sever its connection with the ponderous
works that ramify through the building;
relieve 1t OF the exertion necessary to
move the hundred pieces of machiiiery;
leave 1t alone with only its fires, its boil.
ers, its cylinders, its piston-rods and fly
wheel, and let it rush on. 1t is then
working all within itself, while the great
body of the establishment stands still; its
fires roar as usual; the vanishing streams
of water rapidly as ever change into pent-
up steam, chatting like \ Gagged lion to
burst the iron bounds within which it Is
confined; tho piston rods dart back and
forth like bolts of lightning: the heavy
fy.wheel huns round, making the walls
and the earth itself tremble and shake;
then that engine is wearing itself away
much faster than if II We're running the
vast machinery Of the mill, and Is in dan
ger OF sudden wreck. 1t is so with the
working brain. 1t Is accustomed to run
ming the machinery Of the whole body,
and SO dividing and doing out its steam
like powers in steady streams. 1t directs
every movement; says 10 the right hand,
DO this" and 10 the left, do that"
and out through the nerves 1t sends that
strange life.power that enables the limbs
TO obey. Now, when the editor sits down
to his work, the whole body, with the ex-
ception of the right hand, Is at rest, and
the brain works alone, like the crushing
engine that finds itself free from the heavy
machinery that kept its motion moderate
and steady. Through the long day or
weary night the brain PUSHES on, like the
detached engine that whirls Its dizzy fly
wheel; and it is not strange that the tene-
ment of the brain trembles like the walls
of the building; that the brain itself col.
lapses, as when the engine flies TO pieces;
and that the whole fabric crumbles and
falls before It's time. The power of the
mill Is the steam engine, yet nothing
about the mill requires such careful and
delicate attention; the power of the man
Is the brain, ana one little overstrain upon
il may do 1t more harm than the mangling
Of all the limbs. A man may live, be
physically healthy and mentally brilliant
after all his limbs have been cut off; but
the final burden under which the brain
breaks down brings apoplexy, then
speedy death. Of that disease, which
fortunately is no lingering one, probably
all hard. working, certainly all over
worked journalists, have ielt those warn
ing symptoms-vertgo, unnatural drowsi-
ness; imaginary black specks floating
before the eyes, . sense OF pressure and
confusion in the head, and temporary
numbness apparently of the brain--some-
times Of limb