Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-12-08
HEARTS OVERWOKED.
The Wear and Tear of Modern Bust
ness Life.


From Chambers Journal
No organ In the body is so liable to be
overworked as the heart. When eyery
other part of the body sleeps, il keeps on
Its perpetual motion. Every increased
effort or action demands from the heart
more force. A man runs to catch train
and his heart beats audibly. He drinks
vine and his blood rushes through its
reservoir faster than ever was intended by
nature. His pulse rises after each course
at dinner. A telegram arrives and his
heart knocks at his side. Ana when
any one OF these 'excltements" is over.
he Is conscious OF correspondent depres-
slon-a sinking or emptiness, as 1t is
called. The healthy action of all the
members OF our frame depends upon the
supply OF blood received from this central
FOUNTAIN. When the hearts action Is ar
rested, the stomach, which requires from
1t large supply of blood, becomes en-
teebled. The brain, also waiting for the
blood, is inactive. The herat is a very
willing member; but if it he made to
fetch and carry incessantIy-if it be ''put
upon, as the unselish mem Der of fami-
ly often is, it undergoes a disorgani-
zatlon which is equivalent to its
rupture. And this disorganization
begins too often nowadays IN the hearts
OF very young children Parents know
that If their sons are to succeed at any of
those competitive examinations which
have now aecome so exigent, high pres
sure is employed. Hence young persons
are stimulated to oyerwork by rewards
and punlshments fhe sight OF a clever
boy who IS being trained for competition
is truly a sad one. The preco-
clous, coached up children are never well.
Their mental excitement keeps up a flush
which, like the excitement caused by
strong drink in older children, looks like
health, but it has no relation to it, in
word, the intemperance of education is
over-stralning and breaking their Young
hearts. If III the schoo[-room some hearts
are broken from mental strain, in the
playground and in the gymnasium others
succumb to physical strain. sit is no OBJ
Ject OF mine," says DR.. Richardson, Ito
underrate the advantages Of physical ex-
ercises for the young; bat | can scarcely
o7errate the danger of those fierce COM
petltlve exercises which the world in gen
eral seems determined to applaud had
the opportunity once in my life to live
near a great trainer, himself being a
champion rover. He was patient of
mine, suffering from the very form of in
duced heart disease of which [ am now
speaking, and he gave me ample means
OF studying the conditions OF many of
those whom he trained both for running
and rowing. [ found occasion, certainly,
to admire the pysique to which his trained
men were brought the strength of muscle
they attained, the force of their heart; but
the admiration was qualified by the stern
fact OF the result" But indeed it is not
by overwork so much as by the worry
and anxiety that cur hearts are disorgan-
ized "Laborous mental exercise is
healthy, unless it b. made anxious by
necessary or unnecessary difficulties.
Regular mental labor is best carried on
by introducing into it some variety. New
York gives time for repair better than
attempt at complete rest, since the active
mind finds it impossible TO evade its par
ticular work unless its activity be divert
ed into some new channel" Business
men wear out their hearts by acquiring
habits OF express-,rain haste which little
attention to method would render unnec-
essarY.