Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-04-23
Overworlx and Death.

DIR. Mills, of the University Hospital,
Philadelphia, said in lecture upon
"Overwork and Death" that members
of Congress and senators were con-
stantly giving away under the strain OF
unusual nervous excitement and men,
tai strain brought on from various
causes. Statistics showed the average
age. taking all classes Of men in the
United States, TO be about 80 years, and
this shortening of life is due almost en-
tirely to over-mental activity or irregu-
larties In life. Taking the average
age of a few Of the most eminent
English and American statesmen, that
of the English was found to be y years
and that of the American 20. The
English chief justices have averaged a
life of IS years. while the Americans
only reached go. He said that, taking
146 representatives and 50 senators of
the American Congress and 12l men,
bers of the British Parliament who
had died during the period from 1861 TO
1888, he found that the average age
attained by the members of the British
Parliament was 6S, while the American
representatives only reached IS and the
senators 81 years..
These deaths were caused by gen.
eral breaking up of the system add
debility, brought on by overwork,
nervousness, mental worry, and irregu-
lar habits. The strain attending too
constant work In the committee rooms
frequently brought it On. The more
direct cause of their succumbing to
this strain was, however the change in
their manner OF life. Mental activity
and eyertion, under proper conditions,
rather favored longevity, but the at
tempt to perform any amount of men,
tai labor by one trained for physical
exertlons occasIoned great mental strain
and resulted in shortening life. Men
coming to Congress, he held, frequently
made an entire change in their mode
of life. From habits of unusual phy-
steal activity they changed to activity
in Intellectual and social pursuits. The
strain upon an unframed mind oc-
casioned by pressing and perplexing
committee work, together with the
eXcesses, irregularities and excitements
of new social life, soon effected an
entire breaking up Of the nervous sys-
TEN, and brought on a premature death.
He said this premature breaking down
extended To all classes of men engaged
in active life, and the average terms of
life was much lower in this country
than in England. HIS studies included,
beside senators and members of Con
greSs, justices, judges, legal and medi-
cal practitioners, railroad men, mer-
chants. journalists and all classes Ell.
gagged in active pursuits. The break
downs, he said, were apt 10 occur be-
fore the age of so, and they were fire..
quently occasioned by overwOrk OF
worry alone; but frequently again they
appeared in the form of ordinary dis
eases, such as pneumonia, Bright'S dis
ease and the like, the susceptibility to
these diseases being occasioned by the
breaking up of the system from over
work or irregularity.
The most marked symptoms proceed
ing this wrecking of the nervous sys.
TEN, he said, were peculiar head trou-
bles, pains in the back of the neck and
head. vertlginous attacks, and in addI.
tion great WEAKNESS after but sligh;
exertion palpitation of the heart,
dyspeptic symptoms and an unnatural
hunger shortly after meals.
This premature decay, he thought,
was more common in America than
elsewhere, on account of our libertie:
and opportunities. 1t began in the
schools. All the children having equal
chances, equal incentives, and equal
ambitions, they arrived at equal men.
tai attainments. The son of the black.
smith and the son of the scientist
strove for the same end; but while all
men were equal in this country in a
physical or moral sense there was q
different of mental inheritance, which
rendered natural 10 the one what was
laborious and next to impossible for the
other. 1t was as destructive to the
longevity of the youth inheriting ply,
sical force to strive too hard at mind
work as it was for the youth of deli
cately constituted mind and weak ply.
siQue to undertake manual labor.