Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-08-17
THE EVENING STAR.
Nervous ProSfrafiou


There is no disease soinsdous nor when fuIlv
developed so difficult to cure as that spec;es of
nervous degeneration or exhaustion produced
by night work or long hours. 1t Is easy to
understand how such a state Of prostitution may
be induced. The brain and the nervous system
have been very aptly compared to a galvanic bat
terry in constant use to provide a supply of cleo
tTic fluid for consumption within a sxiyen time
AS long" says recent writer, ''as supply
and demand are fairly balanced the functions
which owe their regular and correct working to
the fluid are carried on with precision; but
when, by ffful and excessive demands carried
far beyond the means of supply, the
balance is not only lost, but the machine itself
Is Overstrained and injured disorder a. first and
disease afterwards are the results. This Illus
trates pretty clearly the condition of well-bal-
anced braip and nervous system supplying with
out an effort 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
f1tfully endeavoring to carry ON those mental
and physical operations over which it formerly
presided without an effort" The symptoms of
nervous prostration are exceedingly painful;
we can afford to pity even the man Of pleas
ure. who has by his own foolish conduct in
duced them, but much more so the BRAIN
worker, who has been burning the midnight oil
In the honest endeavOr to support himself. and
probably wife and family, with responsibility
IN life. He has made a mistake for which we
can readily forgive him. In the pleasurable ex-
citement Of honest toll he has forgotten that the
supply of work cannot be regulated by the de-
mand or need for it. but by the power to pro-
duce it. He has been living on his capital "a
well as the interest thereof. and when he finds
that 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 continued mental strain
Probably the first sign of failing nervous
energy is given by some Of the large organs of
the body; with f1uttering or palpitation. or in
termittent pulse, and shortness of breath in as
cending stairs or walking quickly. The stomach
may give timely warning, and a distaSte for food
or loss of appetite, with acidity, fatulence and
irreguiarity ofthe bowels, may point to the loss
OF vitality from waste unrepaired Or brain symp-
toms 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 may have fits Of drOwsiness or transient
attacks of giddiness, or pain, or heavinesS
| or loss of sleep itself This latter would be
very serious symptom indeed. for in sleep not
only are the muscular and nervous tissues re-
stored 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 facul-
ties have been overtasked. Long hours and
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 rest and nutrition to re-
store it. Irritability of temper and fits of
melancholy both point in the same direction.
to an exhausted nervous system Now. l may
safely say that there are very many thousands
OF brain-workers who are suffering from effects
OF excessive and over mental strain. To warn
such that they are positively shortening their
lives and that they cannot have even the faint
est hopes of reaching anything like an old age
is only to perform part of nay duty as medical
adviser. l should try to point out some remedy
for the evil To bid them cease to work would.
in 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 and regu-
late their mode and system of living.
--->>>-
Saturdays Heat in Richmond.
From the Richmond (va.) Dispatch, Aug. IA.
At 6 O'Clock yesterday morning the Dispatch
thermometer indicated 50 deg; at 9 it was 81
deg, and at noon 101 deg. The heat was almost
unbearable, and the little breeze stirring was
like hot air blast. The few people who have
managed to keep moderately cool all the sum-
mer were at last forced to admit that this was
something more than they could comfortably
endure. At 1 o'clock the temperature had
reached 1O2 deg, and clouds began to rise. and
all the signs of violent thunder storm ap-
peared About O'Clock the wind grew into
gale from the west. and the air was filled with
tilc uuSL duu Sduu TalSeO from the streets.
where it had lain for weeks, each day being
ground finer and finer. On Main street. at
one time, you could not see the houses on
the opposite side; the street cars ploughed
their way through the dust clouds like
ships heading black storm; pedestrians sought
the shelter Of doorways, and doors and windows
were tightly closed against the pernicious in
truder. At various exposed points shade trees
were blown down, the mulberries, as usual,
being the chief sufferers, and several houses
vvynrn 6nvNn rpnI 49, 1ls~
After this windy demonstration, which was
fairly comparable to simeon on the desert,
great raindrops began splashing upon the hot
payements and hOuse-tOpS For time there
was lively struggle for supremacy between
the rain and dust and amid it all there were
peals of thunder and some flashes of lightning.
The dust, however, was soon mastered, and
great streams filled the cutters, poured down
| the roadway and swept off into the culverts the
accumulated dust and dirt of the weeks of
was lowered Is degrees, though the rain was
falling scarcely more than half an hour.
DEATH OF PARKER, THE GUIDE.-The Adiron-
dack guide, Charles H. Parker, who assaulted
Mrs. George Bull, of Philadelphia died early on
Tuesday morning last of the wound inflicted by
Constable Cole while resisting arrest. Mr. Bull
has returned to Philadelphia, and Mrs. Bull re-
mains behind. with some relatives. Her troubles
have greatly Frustrated her, and at one time
insanity was threatened. After Parker's arrest
he was handcuffed and fastened to the constable
by the other assistants. While Cole was asleep
Parker secured the key, which was in Coles
Waistcoat on chain six feet away. and releasing
himself fed without taking his clothing. 1t was
Mr. Bull who tracked him to his lair on Friday
During the three days Mr.. Bull had officers and
guides securing the lake, but Parker from his
hiding places on shore could see their every
movement: Mr.. Bull finally located him near
| the foot OF Long Lake, and stationed Cole and
another constable, both armed, at the only point
where he could pass in getting away. He put
of then in q boat with his wife, and they halted
him. He continued rowing, but the boat ran
aground, and a. he stepped ashore to get her off
he stopped down to pick up his gun. In doing
SO he exposed himself to the range of the wea-
pom tn the hands Of the constable who had
several times warned him to stop or he would
shoot. The bullet struck his arm. shattering o
bone, and then passed entirely through his body.
DR.. Burhsns attended him, and before he died
he made statement not jet given the public.
CANADIAN Posr OFF1cE SAyMes BANx.-The
yearly report Of the Post ONCE Savings Bank
reflects the growing popularity Of the institution
In remarkable way. During the year ending
June 30 last there was deposited S4,175. O49,
nearly double the amount OF any former year,
while the Withdrawals amounted to 81 72 289
wi &c