Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1884-03-13
NIGHT-WORKERS.
Juliet Corson on Brain Worry, Brain
Stimulation and Night Work
Tho kystem Necessary for the Main.
tennnce OF Perfect Icnlth.-
Drugs. Alcohol, Ten,
and Coffee.


lIIarpcr's Bazaar.
Those who follow any avocation which In
wolves labor during the night do not habitu-
ally cat as much or as regularly as day work.
ers, and few pursue tho systena necessary for
tho maintenance Of perfect health. For night
workers the best regimen includes hearty
breakfast when they rise, which is generally
from l2 to O'Clock; after this some moderate
outdoor exercise, which should be followed
by sllo, t interval Of rest and relaxation; then
q good dinner, partaheu Of between and 8
O'clock at least an hour before beginning
work. If Labor is to continue until or 5
o'clock in the morning n light nu-
tritious repast should be eaten shortly
after midnight in order to fortify the
system for work during the hours immeai'
ately following when, as was stated in a
former article, the vital powers arc most en-
feebled. When work is finished, and before
retiring simple lunch should be taken, In
the form Of cup of good hot broth or beef
ten, or glass of light wine and a couple Of
crackers; this will generally insure sleep by
withdra wing the blood from the brain, where
it has been concentrated by monta effort
In ordinary cases of wnkefulness after night
work, not confirmed by habit, light meal Of
this kind will usually prove to be remedy.
BY attention to these details, and by taking
sufficient sleep, night workers can preserve
their health under ordinary circumstances
A MISTAKE.
ANY writer no allots certain amount Of
work to bc done in the course OF the day is
linble 10 lnse time by Interruptions during his
working hours; if tho unfinished work haunts
hin, he cnn otsi:ep, and tlleprobability is that
by II or II O'clock at night, when he Is free
from interru, ton he will experience calm
and tranquil feeling which might be
considered favorable to work; especially
in cities tue cessation OF street noises
about ml,i,, hit seems conducive to thought.
Hysienically spnakng, such an impulse
should be dieregaIded; the quiet which
follows thu withdrawal Of external
ciusus Of axcitation, and the lowering OF
vital action, arc indications Of rest rather
than work; natural darkness and tho conse-
Qurnt decline of physical temperature,
soothe the nerves Of the eyes and brain, and
calm the entire nervous SYSTEM; the physical
tranquility which follows is natures preIIi-
ruton for reposo. Work can be done under
such conditions, and may seom well done,
but doing it is imprudent, to speak mildly;
to put the case with proper emphasis, it is
like drawing Il due-hill bearing 100 Tcr cent.
interest, and tho bill has to be mc;--no pro
test possible
WORK AND WORRY.
Too little attention is paid in this country
to the possibility Of mental or physical col
lapse from overwork. When such a condi-
ton is impending rs the result Of any. save
mental, taxation there is usually some pro
monition experienced which fixes the atten-
tion and compclS preventive measures; but
the intellectual lahorer is apt to disregard
that condition which makes his work an
effort, and to think the pain at the
base of his brain an unimportant dis
comfort A fruitful cause OF mental
exhaustion is anxiety If all cares
could be put aside at night, a'l unint"r
ruptcd sleep be secured, the jl1cd nervous
system might recuperate; but when anxious
thought is prolonged into the hours which
should he given to repose, they yield no rest.
The brain is SO finely organized that it cannot
endure the diScordant simultaneous action of
work and worry; the divided energies fail to
accomplish any resalt equal to the forco
which they cxpenl, and their waste is more
dis.lsLro1ls than any which can he caused by
iiu
of any one legitimate end OF work.
DRUas AND SPIRITS.
In regard to the stimulation Of thought by
the us, OF drugs and spirits, evidence ns to
results is very contradictory. Despite there
corded experience of writers upon tho fas-
cinating eifccta Of opium eating and s'uok.
ing, it affects individuals in totally different
ways and very few ever experience the
mental exaltation and kindiug of imagina-
tion from it which have been described in
such glowing terms. Az means ct relief
from pain it is etlicacious, but medical experts
condemn its ndiscrinlinate use. Especially
is the habitual use Of the hypulermic syringe
reprobated 10y physicians. As Il temporary
measure of relief in extreme suffering it is ad-
missible but there is absolute danger in its
hubitual employment.
So Far as the substance of the brain is con-
ccrnrd. the physiological effect of alcohol s
increased activity of circulation, and conse
Guently more rapid succession of thoughts.
Beyond this primary effect arises the possbiI-
ity of SO far exciting the organ as to produce
cxtrnvagant and visionary ideas which will
not bear critical Judgment. OF course, any
excessive indulgence quite clouds the facul.
ties, and beyond that point the stages OF i'm
beclity are progressive.
ALCOHOL, TEA, COFFEE.
There is such diverse opinion on this sub
ject that an absolute conclusion seems unat-
tainabe, recent writer has collected the
testimony of the leading thinkers of the time,
and the conclusion reached seems to he that
while no stmulants materially promote intel.
lectual activity, several can Ike used to meet
temporary conditions Of exhaustion or nerv
Gus depression Some personal experience
may be admissible, for the reason that
none Of the articles cited as brain stimu-
lants are used ht,bitually, and therefore the
temporary effects produced by them may
be suggestive to others. Tea, used at night.
with sugar and lemon, causes wakefulness,
save at hn interval between | and o'clock,
when some such definite motion as walking
about is necessary to overcome drowSiness;
that once passed, work can he done till about
I or 5 O'clock: further than that the effect
has not been pushed, because some rest was
imperative in view of the work of the COM
ing day Coffee taken with milk and sugar
had no especial effect beyond a gen.
eral sense Of refreshments without
milk, the stimulation was slight;
without either milk or sugar, it
proved so unpalatable that speedy return
was made to ten and lemon. Alcohol in any
form stimulated cxerton for short time,
and then induced drowsiness and disinclina-
ton to work; it, therefore, seems best adapted
for use in the interval between work and the
recupelation Of vital energy by the assimla-
ton of nutriment, when, by deadening that
acute sense of weariness which leads to nerv-
ous irritabity and painful senstiveness to
annoying conditions, it is often conducive to
the derivation of benefit from food a glass r
two of good wine Burgundy seems the best
taken Just before meal, or early in the con-
sumption Of it, does not interfere with diges-
ton, and tends to increase appetite, when