The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-01-17
Regular Exercise.

Second only to the nOurishment of
the blood by food is the regulation of
the action Of all the vital functions
habitual exercise; that undertaken
pasmodicaily and at uncertain inter-
walls is injurious rather than benef-
cial. JudicioUs exercise for BRAIN
workers is that which causes the
blood to circulate freely, and affords a
change of position and action to the
cramped and Wearied muscles, in ad-
dition to some slight interest calcu-
lated to insure a change Of thought,
and consequent relaxation to the tired
brain. 1t should be taken out-of-
doors, and in the sunshine if possible,
because sunlight is an impor-
tant source of physical vigor.
Failing op-n-air exercise, abso-
lutte purity of the surrounding atmos-
phere is imperative, because its respi-
ration furnishes to the blood that
quantity of oxygen necessary to the
process of destructive assimilation,
which restores vitality and the ner-
vous system; the condition Of the
nervous system affects the secretion
OF the gastric juice, and, of course, its
deficiency occasions impaired diges-
tion. When one has been writing for
several hours in badly-yentilated
room, or in one lighted with gas, ex-
ercise in pure air is required to supply
the blood with oxygen. and thus pre-
pare the way for the proper nutrition
| of the brain, nervt and muscles from
the next supply of food.
| With the brain worker, whether he
| be literary man, lawyer, minister,
| speaker or merchant. exercise replaces
that degree of manual labor upon
which the health of the average work
ingman depends; but he should never
! be led astray by the idea that violent
| physical effort can in any way coun-
teTact the WEAKNESS arising from ex-
cassive mental toll; exercise TO the
point of fatigue is suicidal to brain
workers; it is simply the killing of a
half dead man. The b. st time for gentle
outdoor exercise seems to be about
mid-afternoon, if it can be taken
without exposure to excessive heat
the sunlight has chemical properties
which act tonically UPON the system.
| Early morning exercise has been
! favored, but It's as much to be repro
bated as early mental or physical la
Dor, because at that time vitality Is at
| it, lowest ebb, and it needs stimula-
ton rather than further depletion;
certainly none but the gentlest e1er-
! else should be taken until the ex-
bausted system has been supplied
| with abundant nourishment.
In the early afternoon, especially if
MONDAY dinner be taken, the results
OF mental labor are not, as rule, sat-
isfaciory, because digestion and sound
| thought cannot proceed Simultaneous
ly; besides, from noon until after 3
O'Clock there is Il preceptible disincli-
nation - work; the comparative ab-
sence Of electricity from the atmos-
Pliers makes the head heavy and in
duces drowsiness; the same con-
ditiOn prevails again between
| 9 or 10 o'clock at night and
sunrise. There is little question of
the fact that atmospheric electricity
| affects the quality of mental labor;
when it is in excess, from nine o'clock
in the morning until noon, the best
work is done, all other conditions be-
ing favorable; again. from about six
o'clock in the evening, it rises and is
maintained for some three hours. In
regard to season, there is less atmos-
pheric electricity in midsummer than
in midWinter.
In default Of the ability to eng go
in the requisite exercise, persons iiv-
ing sedentary lives should battle
nightly in as COOL water as their
capacity for reaction will permit, and
employ subsequent vigorous friction
with bath towels or flesh brushes; or
resort to what is now sanctioned as
legitimate practice, massage. i. e., the
vigorouse rubbing of the flesh and
the manipulation of the joints by the
hands of strong and experienced
operator.