The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1885-09-02
AsewlNe WoMaNls ron.
Nervous rowsF Consumed IN oas Day
An Interesting Comparison.

An Interesting Comparison.
tDr L j. Chcrrngtoa Ia Lowell ccurieil
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,
are illustrated by the following caleula!
ton: A seamstrcSs complaining OF feel!
ing tireo after the days work, led the
writer TO mAkean estimate Of the bodily
power expended during the day.
Following are the data Atid eAleula.
ton? Fint-Thc arm is played tadiaily
At the shoulder and, together with the
hand, is lifted 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 bS
81 pounds lf separated from the
shoulder It would really weigh more.)
Third-The next day the number OF
stitches taken in one hour Of average
work was counted aud found to bo about
1,.OD, amounting in ten hours 10 10000
stitches Fourth The average length
ofthrtad was estimated az II inches,
Now the arm, Il dead matter, would
have required On amount OF power suf.
ticiCnt toliit rs dead weight, 3 pounds,
eyety time a stitch was taken fOr Il
Is a mechanical law that to nioYo d cerf
tain weight Of living matter requires the
same amount Of lifO-torce that an equal
weight Of dead matter requires Of any
fore.
The figures would Ia thus: $4,000
times 5, pounds equals 6S, 0DO pounds,
the total weight lifted. That IS, tho
amount OF power expended In arm OK
ercisO during the days sewing work, II
concentrated in single LIT, would raise
$4,000 pounds OH tons a distance Of
II inches in 8 seconds, equivalent to $50
horse power. Furthermore, as tho pcrs
son walked about 5000 feet, the dis.
tance from home 10 the work.room,
four times during the day, tho compu.
tation Of power expended In walking
would be Ns per data thus; Flrst-s3,0UO
feet each way times Rould 10 II.
OOO feet Second Taking lineal
feet TO a step, she would take
C,0OO steps in 5000 feet. Thitd-EAeh
step wastaken in one half second Of time.
Fourth-The person weighed 2Spounls,
Fifth-ACcording to formulated data on
the Mechanism Of Walking, !" the work
done by person weighing l2S pounds,
in making hOrl ontal step Of two feet
is equal 10 that donein raising vertically,
TO height Of inchesl.l x2.l feet, 0
weight Of 1Oi pounds (ll9xiSS.l
pounds.
The figuring would DO thus expressed:
4 times 1000 feet Is l2, 600 feet; 1900
feet divided by9 feet ito each stop)
equals G,OO0 steps taken; 1000 stens
multiplied by 10. pounds to each stepl
equals o., 900 rounds, tho total weight
lifted. This walking power, I concen.
trated in single lift, would raise rs 900
pounds (82 tons two inchCc high In
One.half second, equivalent 10 8S iS.lUO
concentrated hor 0 power. which added
TO the Sli tons OF weight lifted in sew,
ing, give q total Of GS, tons OF voritably
calculated weight lifted during the day
a total Of 73 7S.lO0 horse power.
In absence Of figures this would seem
almost incredible. Is 1t a wonder now
that she was tried! In view Of this lat.
ter estimate Of nervous power expended
in walking, Is It advisable or beneficial
for feeble persons to indulge in long
walks 'as an exercise for the tepain
oil strength and healtht and does i NOT
account for the fatigue so soon felt by
such persons! A moderate, short walk,
with o, o,casiOnal rests, or riding would
TO 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 COM
snmer Of nervous force. So that, taking
all together, the sewing woman had q
very exhaustive days 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 eYadinG
this law nor the penalty OF It's violation,
A sewing machine operated by the foot
Is more exhaustive, In equal time, than
hand sewing, because 1t docs more work.
1t takes power from the spinal nervous
axis down the nerves OF the ieg, the
power so used being loss to the body,
and tending specially 10 weaken tho
organs and ligaments OF the pclyis. The
ordinary hand sewing, which Is herein
shown to DO very exhaustive ofpower,
usually effects a weakening IL the
digestive organs, lungs and nusetesm
the chest
1t may be questioned by some, 'It
exercise is 50 haustive Of nervous
force and so fatiguing, how can II con-
duCe to make person strongori" This
is very natural query, and II may b.
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 tierys
Gus power acquired each day as & result
or product Of food digested and air In
spired, must be more than the power
expended in bodily activity. FOOD
and the air are tho only sources OF
boil ly substance and power; tho ele-
meni OF air being quite rs essential as
that Of food. SeConaly, in regard To-
exercise itself. Herein three laws must
10 recognized: First, all tho muscles
must act together, as nearly rs possible,
n simultaneous cooperation move
ment SO that mono 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 lie brief, with longer In.
iervals for rest and growth and the oSS
dihary pursuits Of life.