Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-03-28
OvERwORKED BRATNS
COl1apses Caused by Strain and Worry
DR.. johnson Tells How to Preserve q
Sound Mind I'm n Sound Hody--Unequal
Development of the Body.

DR.. Joseph Taber johnson. in his lecture on "a
Sound Mind in Sound Body" in the Y. MICA.
rooms last Monday evening, said: Unsoundness
of mind and body was frequently inherited from
unsound parents who have destroyed their vi
tality by lives of luxury, dissipation crimes
and acquired disease, which have descended
through various generations. Unsoundness OF
both mind and body were acquired by too early
and too much schooling. After referring to vari-
Gus diseases, caused aggravated by over
providing and over-heating school rooms, the
speaker gave instances of the overstrain of the
nervous system in the colleges, male and
female. These break-downs were not confined he
ssaa, 70 tns eoiteges tor young men ana young
strain and too little healthful exercise in the
open air, but instances of the same kind
Cured in the military and naval academies.
The systems of averages and competitive ex-
aminations destroyed the soundness of many
minds and bodies. The over-work and mental
strain and worry connected Herewith in the
lives Of clergymen, jurists, physicians, politi-
claus, statesmen, editors and Congressman were
referred to at some length, and many instances
OF preak-dOwn and nervous exhaustion were
mentioned.
Intellectual work was shown to be produc-
tive Of longevity. Statistics prove that of 100
workers OF unusual brain development and
power, more of them are alive and capable
OF inutng their labors at 90 and 30 years
than OF an equal number of uneducated men
who are simple day labOTers muscle workers.
Brain work, however, which has TO be accom-
piished In hurry, or under a strain OF body
and accompanied by friction and worry, is rap
idly exhsusting and largely contributes TO the
constantly Increasing number of coilapsing
nosn and women, who can hardly be spared
rom the places they occupy. Referring to I'M
eoundness OF the body, the doctor said: "Stand
on some prominent corners say 9th and or 18th
street and Pennsylvania avenue, at about
O'Clock IN. for an hour, and watch those who
pass, and you will agree with me as to the
enQau proportion of perfectly sound men and
women employed in the departments and also
OF the promenaders for health and pleasure at
that time in the day. Many have pale faces
round shoulders hollow or nat chests one
heads broad foreheads, but small necks, feeble
bodies and bow-legs. Few stand erect, walk
gracefully and appear sound"
IL was demonstrated by the lecturer that the
various outdoor occupations did not as was
popularity believed, produce soundness Of all
parts Of the body. Some members were de-
yeioped 10 the exclusion and at the expense of
Others. Thus man who sits and breaks stone
All day develops powerful arms and back, but
has no legs. Men who bend over on their work,
and legs, but become round-shouldered and fiat
chested, and die quickly Of the various diseases
which attack the lungs. A strong, hearty sailor
Is no walker he is unequally developed; has to
get his sea-legs of before he could run any dis
lance: A farmer, who is supposed to lead the
most healthful life, has no spring elasticity
10 his muscles, He walks in the city as If he
were walking on ploughed land. The systerna-
Tic exercise Of all the muscles of the body, as in
Well taught calisthenics and gymnastics, was
suggested as a remedy for the over and under de-
velopment of the different members of the body
above referred TO. The over-strain of heart and
lungs In the rowing and running matches was
referred TO, and warning note was sounded.
rnent Of sound minds in sound bodies in the
rising generation, so as to I'LL the important
places In the church and state, for the future
good OF the country and the race.