New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-07-15

Al Dr. Boards report on our condition Is without
exaggeration. the American people seem to be in
sorry plight 1t is true that he holds out brilliant
hopes for the future but we have always imagined
that the prospect of the promised land for their
children afforded but dismal mitigation OF their
troubles to the fortyyears jewellers i'll the Wilder
Less At all events we cannot say that the promise
of glory to seems to tighten TO any great cx
tent the gloomy description of our actual condition
which DIR. Beard gives with such gusto. We have
doubts to the entire correctness or the pic
ture It seems overdrawn, and. in consequence,
more likely to do harm than good. Of that. how
ever, a better judgment can be formed from the
book than elsewhere and it ia needless to say that
DIR. Beard writes in very readable, not to say
popular STYLE
The book begins with definition of nervousness,
first giving what it is not l. c., unbalanced mental
organization or passionateness, and
froned nth the startling definition that nervous
ness is ncrvccssncss, or lack of nerve force, the
former term being retained on account of long
usage. Formidable list of symptoms is given,
among which are fear OF society and fear of soil
tude of open places or of closed places cold hands
and feet, aud cold feet and handsif Dr. Beard had
only explained the subtle distinction" coming and
going" etc, etc. After more than page of this
are told that the list is not supposed to be COM
plete, but only typical and the title of the book is
explained by the statement that special expressions
of nervousness are found only in America ana that
the relative quantity of and of the dis
springng therefrom is much greater here
than in any nation in history. Nervousness s to be
distinguished from organic diseases, from of
which it seems tn be sort of safeguard. 1t is a
physical not n mental state, and its phenomena do
not from emotional excess excltability or
from organic disease but from nervous debility and
irritability.
The characteristic features of the dia-
thesis constitutional tendency to diseases of the
fine liat,i Tn
varied attacks of diseases of the nervous system,
and comparative immunity from ordinary febre or
inlammatory diseases DIR. Beard notices what he
calls the amusing moderation of Americans in the
of stmulants and narcotics and their increased
susceptibility to them and says that to see how
Englishman drink is alone worth the
voyage. Inebrety, as distinguished from the vice
of Drunkenness is peculiarly American malady of
the nervous system Sensitiveness to drugs is much
greater among Americans than elsewhere, and
necesstates much smaller doses Among other
signs of increased nervousness ranked increase
of nearsghtedness and weakness of the eyes. early
and rapid decay of the teeth" American dentists
the best in the world, because American teeth
the worst in the world "-premature badness
and senstiveness TO heat and cold, nccessitatng
temperature in our rooms ten twelve degrees
higher than the English, French Germans desire.
In the must of this gloom bright spot. The
phenomenal beauty of American women arises
from the same climatic peculiarities that make us
nervous and their skill in dressing comes from the
same increased sensitiveness which gives them
irritable nerves. On the other hand. in
formed that American oratory, American humor and
the American language are all partially the pro-
duct of our national nervousness.
The causes of American nervousness are, first
modern civilization with its increase of worry care,
noise and hurry. The telegraph railway rapid de-
veopment of new ideas. increase in amount of
w an spI for
sorrow, the repression of emotion. join hands with
politics and religion i'll frightening our nervous
ness. Even cur liberty and our popular elections,
our Professionalism with is subdivision into conflict
ing sects, the habit of forethought cngendered by
civilization, are factors "The people of this coun-
try have been pressed constantly with these three
questions: How shall keep from starvingY
Who is to be the next Presidents And where shall
we go when we des" Another controlling cause is
our climate with its extremes of temperate re and
its sudden and violent changes and its dryness of
atmosphere. Race also must be considered
For the bright side of his picture DIR. Beard brings
forth the following theories which ho considers
sufficiently established by the evidence he has him
self collected. L. That the brain working classes
which of most Liable to nervous diseases
live much longer than the muscle working classes
.. That those who combine brain work and muscle
work are longer lived than those who engage in
manual labor merely. 3. That the greatest and
average than brain workers of ordinary ability OF
industry. 4. That clergymen longer lived than
other brain-workers. 3. That longevity Increases
with advance of civilization, and in too marked
degree to be explained merely by improved sanitary
knowledge q. That although nervous diseases in
with increase of culture, and though the ex-
cessve eXcitements of high civilization are pre-
judicial to health and longevity they are moro
than counterbalanccd by the fact that fatal nfam-
matory diseases have diminished in frequency and
violence as nervous diseases have increased. Brain
work when unaccompanied by worry, is faithful
Moreover, brain-wOrkcrs have less worry and more
positive comfort aud happiness than muscle
workers. They live under better sanitary condi-
lions, and the nervous temperament. usually pre-
dominant with them. IS autagonstic TO fatal acute
iniamnatory diseases. They better adapt their
labor to their moods and periods of greatest
capacity. curious discussion follows as to the
times OF greatest productive power of the periods of
original and of routine work The golden decade is
determined to lie between thirty and FORTY Old
age seems Int to initiate its own past productive
ness and to sink. besides, in beth happiness and
morality, and the only compensation are offered
is that work grows easier aud more automatic The
causes of the exceptional longevity of great brain
workers complex. They usually come from
healthy longlivcd ancestors and usually blessed
with good constitutions. They have a remarkably
owcrful WILL in itself potent factor of onge witty
and they work more easily than other men,
1t is a consolation To the nervous that they are
capable of more exquisite pleasure than those less
senSitivcly constituted. or, in the words of our
author, I" if they plunged into a deeper hell
they also rise to "a brighter heaven" Nervousness
moreover, are told, tcnds-contrary to the habit