The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1884-12-27
WHAT WORRY DOES.
Disorders Produced by Mental
DfSqufetude.
Nineteenth Century.

Nineteenth Century.
The cause, or condition, which most
commonly exposes the reserve of men,
tai energy to loss and injury is worry.
The tone and strength of mind arc
seriously impaired by its wearing in
fuence, and, if it continues long
enough, they will be destroyed. 1t
sets the'organiGm of thought and feel
ing vibrating with emotions Which are
hot consonant with the natural liberia
ton of energy in work. The whole
machinery is thrown out of gear, and
exercise, which would otherwise be
plcasurable and innocuous, becomes
painful and even destructive. 1t is
easy to see how this must be. The
longest note in music, the most steady
and persistent ray Of light-to use an
old-faShioned expression-the tonic
muscular condition, are all, we know,
produced by rapid succession Of
minute motive impulses or acts like
the explosion and discharge of cleo
trieity from alternately connected and
separated points in circuit, in fact,
series of vibrations. Mental energy
doubtless takes the same form of de-
velopnent. If a disturbing element
is introduced by the obtrusion of some
independent source of anxiety, or If
out Of the business in hand the mind
makes a discord confusion ensucs, and
for the time being harmonious action
ceases. Working under these condi-
tions in obedience TO the will, the
mental organism sustGins injury which |
must be great, and may be lasting.
The function of the warning sense is |
the reserve is no longer a
stock in allegiance, and it ceases to |
give stability to the mind the rYthm |
Of the mental forces il interrupted a
crash is always impending, and too
often sudden collapse occurs. The
point TO be made clear is this: Over.
work is hardly possible, and seldom,
if ever happens, while the mind is act
ing in the way prescribed by the con-
and in the normal modes of
mental exercise. The moment, how
aver, the natural rhythm of work is
1roKeH and discord ensues, the mind
8 like an engine with the safety-valve
oeked, the steam-gauge falsified, the
governing apparatus ont of gear; a
may occur at any instant,
The state pictured Is one of worry,
md the besetting peril is not depicted
n too luFid colors. The victim of
E0Try 10 ever on the verge of catss-
ropbe; if be escapes, the marvel 10
lot at his strength of intellect so
much as his good fortune. Worry is
disorder, however induced, and disor-
Ierly work is abhorred by the laws of
Iature, which leaves it wholly without
emedy. The energy employed 10
ndnstryscaFried on under this condir
ion, is Iasished in producing small
esult, and speedily exhausted. The
eserVe comes in play very early in
he task, and the faculty of recupera-
ion is speedily arrested. Sometimes
oss of appetite announces the cessa-
ion of nutrition; otherwise, the sense
f hunger, present in the system, is
OF time preternsturally acute, and
marks the fact that the demand is oc-
asioned by loss of power to appro-
riate, instead of any dilninution of
upply. The effort to work becomes
ally more labsrious, the task of fix
pg the attention grows increasingly
ifficult, thoughts wander, memory
ails, the reasoning power is enfeebled;
shade of defunet emo
ion or some past persuasion-takss
he place of judgment; physical nerve
= brain disturbance may supeFYene,
nd the crash will then come sud
emily, unexpected by onlookers, per
APPS unpercoiyed by the sufferer him
alf. This is the history Of IVORY"
r disorder produced By mental dis
uietnde and distraction; occasionally
y physical diseases.