Smyrna times., 1881-08-17
Excessive Brain Work.
NERVOUS DISORDERS FROM WHICH THous-
ANDs SUFFER.

/ There is no disease so insidious nor
when fully developed so difficult to cure.
as that species of nervous degeneration or
exhaustion produced by night work or
long hours. II is easy to understand how
such Il state of prostration may be indu-
ced The brain and the nervous system
have been very aptly compared to a GAL
Vanic battery in constant use to provide a
| supply of electric fluid for consumption
within given time. g As long," saws
recent writer, ''as supply and demand are
fairly balanced, the functions which owe
their regular and correct working to the
nuid are carried on with precision; but
when, by fitful and excessive demands
carried far beyond the means of supply
tfe balance Is not only lost, but the
machine itself is Overstrained and injured
disorder at first and disease afterward
are the result. This illustrates pretty
clearly the condition of well-balaneed
brain and nervous system, supplying with
out an eiihft all the nervous force required
in the operations of the mind and body
so long as its work is in proportion to its
powers, but If embarrassed by excessive
demands feebly and fitfllly endeavoring
to carry on these mental and physical
operations over which it formerly presided
without an effort" The symptoms of
nervous prostration are exceedingly pain
ful; we can afford to pity even the man of
pleasure. who has by his own foolish con-
duct induced them, but much more so the
brain-worker, who has been burning the
midnight oil In the honest endeeyor to
support himself, and probably wife and
family, with respectability in life. He
has made mistake for which we can
readily forgive him. In the pleasurable
excitement of honest toll he has forgotten
that the supply of work cannot be regula-
ted by the demand orsneed for it, but by
the power to produce it, He has been
living on his capital as we'll az the interest
thereof, and when he finds the former
ialling-when he finds he has no longer
the strength to work as he used to do
and starvation itself probably staring him
IN the face if he ceases to toll, why the
very thought of coming collapse tends
only to hasten the catastrophe, and reason
itself may totter and fall before the con-
tinued mental strain,
Probably the first sign of failing ner-
vous energy is given by some of the larger
organs of the body; it may be functional
arrangement of the heart, with fluttering
or palpitation, or Intermittent pulse and
shortness of breath in ascending stairs or
walking quickly. The stomach NAV give
timely warning, and a distaste for food. or
loss OF appetite, with acidity, fatulence
and irregularity of the bowels, may point
to loss of vitality from waste unrepaired.
Or brain symptoms may point out to
the patient that things are going wrong.
He may not find himself able to work
with his usual life and activity; he NAV
nave hts of drowsiness, or transient at
tacks of giddiness, or pain, or heaviness,
or loss of sleep itself This latter would
DC very serious symptom indeed for in
sleep not only are the muscular and ner-
Vous tissues restored and strengthened.
but there is for the time being cessation
of waste itself; and if sleep be essential
TO the ordinary healthy man, it is much
more so to him whose mental faculties
nave been overtaxed. Long hours and
night work lead to loss of sleep and loss
OF sleep may lead to insanity and death.
Loss OF memory, whether transient or
general, is sure sign that the brain has
lost its power of healthy action and needs
rests and nutrition to restore Il. Irrita-
biiity of temper and fits of melancholy.
both point in the same direction, to an ex-
hausted nervous system. Now l NAV
safely say that there are very many thous-
ands of brain workers who are suffering
sadly and it may be silently suffering from
the effects of excessive toll and over men
tai strain. To warn such that they are
positively shortening their lives, and that
they cannot have the faintest hopes of
reaching anything like an old age, is only
to perform part of my duty as medical
adviser. / should try to point out some
remedy for the evil. To bid them cease
to work would, in a great many cases, be
equivalent to telling them to cease to live.
They must work or they cannot eat.
Well but there is one thing that all can
do, they can review, remodel, regulate
their mode and system of living.-Cas.
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