The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1885-09-09
4 SEWING woNAN,s ION.

tDr. L j chcrnurtOa ID Lowell Courleil

Nervous Powet Consumed In oas nAy-;
/ An Interesting Comparison.
tDr. L J. cherriugtoa Ia Lowell coaleil
The wonderful faculty Of the human
body for developing nervous power. and
the extent to which bodily activities de-
priye the nervous system Of that power,
arc illustrated BY the following calcula.
ton: A sCamstress complaining OF feel.
I ing tireo after tue days work, led the
I writer 10 nRkean estimate OF the bodily
power expended during the day.
Following are the data and ealtula.
tion? Firt-Tho arm is played tadially
at tile shoulder and, together with the
hand, is lifted a varying distance ID
taking every stitch, tho distance lifted
being reduced as tho thread becomes
shorter. Second-The weight Of The
persons relaxed arm was found To bG
81 pounds NJ separated from the
shoulder 1t would really weigh more.)
Third The ncxt day the number OF
stitches taken In one hour Of average
work was counted aud found to DO about
1,.0D, amounting in ten hours to 10000
stitches Fourth Tho average length
ofthread was estimated at II inches,
Now the arm, Il dead matter, would
have required an amount OF power suf.
ticipnt 10 liltitstleed weight, B pounds.
every time d stitch was taken For Il
Is a nechanlcatlaw that to move d cefs
tain weight OF living matter requires the
same amount Of life.torce that an equal
weight Of dead matter requires Of any
fore.
The figures would Ia thus: $4,000
times 3. pounds equals $4,000 pounds,
the total weight lifted. That IS, tho
amount OF power expended in arm OK
erciso during the days sewing work, II
concentrated in a single lift, would raise
$1,000 pounds OH tons a distance Of
II inches in 8 seconds, equivalent To $50
horse power. Furthermore, as tho per-
son walked about 5000 feet, the dis.
tance from home 10 the work.rOom,
four times during tho day, tho compu.
tation Of power expended In walking
would be 0s per data thus: First-a1,OUl
feet each way 4 times Rotild 10 L..
ono feet. Second-Taking . lineal
feet to a step, she w01ld take
G,0O0 steps in 5000 feet. Thifd-EAeh
step wastaken In one. half second Of time.
Folrth-The person weighed rs pounds,
Fifth-According TO formulated data on
the Mechanism Of Walking, " the WORK
done by a person weighing 1893 pounds,
in making hOri ontal step Of two feet
is equal 10 that donein raising vertically,
10 height Of inChesQ.l x2.l feet, Q
weight Of 1Oi pounds (l.l9xl2s.1
pounds).
The figuring would DO thus expressed:
times 1000 feet Is 10000 feet; 12,OtO
feet divided by9 feet ito each stop
equals 5000 steps taken; 1000 stens
multiplied by ~ pounds ito each stepD
equals $4,000 rounds, the total weight
lifted. This walking power, | cOncen.
trated in a single lit, would raise ~ 900
pounds (32 tons two inchCE high IN
One.half second, equivalent 10 BS iS.lOD
concentrated hor power. which added
TO tho 8l4 tons OF weight lifted in sew,
ing, give o total Of G9, tons Of yeritably
calculated weight lifted during the day
a total Of 78 7S.lOO horse power.
In absence Of figures this would seem
almost incredible. Is II a wonder now
that she was tried! In view Of this lat.
ter estimate Of nervous power expended
in walking, Is 1t advisable or beneficial
for feeble persons to indulge In long
walks ''as an exercise" for the regain
Of strength and healtht and does t NOT
account for the fatigue so soon fGlt BY
such persons! A moderate, short walk,
with occasional rests, or riding would
10 better for them. Furthermore, this
i not all tho power expended duringthe
day. For tho vital organs, the stomach,
lungs, respiratory muscles, liver, ETC..
and every vital process consumed the
nervous power Tho Train, which WIS
considerably exercised in mental activity
In guiding the work, is a great con.
sumcr Of nervous force. So that, taking
all together, tho sewing woman had q
very exhaustive day work.
II is worthy OF note here that the
human complex machine like all other
machinery, requires and consumes an
amount of power commensurate With
the work done, and there Is no evadinG
this law nor the penalty Of its violation
A sewing machine operated by the foot
Is more exhaustive, In euual time. than
hand sewing, because 1t docs more work.
II takes power from the spinal nervous
axis down the nerves OF the ieg, the
power so used beihg a loss to tho body,
and tending specially 10 weaken tho
organs and ligaments Of the pclyis. The
ordinary hand sewing, which Is herein
shown to be very exhaustive Of power,
usually effects q weakening IL the
digestive organs, lungs and musetes@
the chest.
1t may be questioned by some, 'Tt
exercise is SO haustive Of nervous
force and so fatiguing, how can II con-
duCe to make person strongOrH This
is a very natural query, and II may be
thus answered: Exercise will strengthen
the body only by conforming to certain
laws and conditions, VIZ, Firstly, in 70.
gard to power. In this tho law Of sup.
ply and consumption must no observed.
which requires that the amount OF iierys
Gus power acquired each day as & RESULT
or product Of food digested and air in
spiFed, must DO more than the power
expended in bodily activity. FOOD
and the air are tho only sources OF
bo' ly substance and power; tho ele.
meni OF air being quite rs essential as
that Of food. Seconaly, iu regard To-
exercise itself. Herein three laws must
10 recognized; First, all tho muscles
must act together, as nearly MS possible,
N n simultaneous cooperation move.
ment, 50 that none gain strength to the
disparity OF others which are inactive;
second, such cooperative exercise must
be taken with gradual increase Of bur.
den imposed, aud Of effort applied from
time to time as tho ! ody gains general
strength; third, tho time given to such
exercise should be brief, with longer in.
iervals for rest and growth and the oFs
binary pursuits Of life.