Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1886-05-22
A SEWING WoMAN's ToIL. =
AeFvous Power Consumed I'm one Day
An Interesting Comparison.
On L J. cherrfngton IN Lowell courierI


IDA L J. Cherrfngton In Lowell courier1
The wonderful faculty of the bumat
BODY Tor developing nervous power, an,
the extent to which bodily activities dc
priye the nervous system of thai power
are illustrated BY the following calcula
tlon: A seamstress complaining OF feel
ing tired after the days work. led th
N-lter to make an estimate of the bodil,
power expended during the day.
Following are the data and calcula
ton: Flrst-The arm is PLAYED radiall,
at the shoulder and, together with IN.
hand, is lifted varying distance /,
taking every stitch, the distance Iiftet
beng reduced as the thread become,
shorter. second-The weight of tn,
persons relaxed arm was found to be
d pounds. CT separated from thu
shoulder it would really weigh more.
Ihlrd-Ihe next day the number oil
stitches taken in one hour on average
work was counted and found to be abont
l,200, amounting in ten hours to 10. 000
stitches. Fourth-The average lenoth
OF thread was estimated at ii inches
NOW the arm, if dead matter, would
have required an amount of power suf.
ticient to lift its dead weight, 81 pounds
every time stitch was taken. For II
Is mechanical law that to move a GER
tam weight of living matter requires the
same amount of life-force that an ennal
weight Of dead matter requires of any
force.
The figures would he thus: 10000
times u pounds equals 60. 600 mounds
the' total weight lifted. That is. the
amount OF power expended in arm ex
erclse during the days sewing work if
concentrated in single lif.t, would raise
vs. GOO pounds OH tons) distance of
II inches in 3 seconds, equivalent to ga
morse power. Furthermore, as the per-
son walked about 5000 feet. the dis.
lance from home to the work room
four times during the day the comm,
tatlon OF power expended in walking
would be as per data thus: First-3 OO9
feet each way 4 times would be 10.
oooo feet. Second-Taking 2 lineal
deet 10 q step, she would take
5000 steps in 5000 feet. Third-Eacb
step was taken in one half second of time
Fourth The person weighed 1873 pounds
tltth-According to formulated data on
the Mechanism of Walking" the work
done by a person weighing 1873 pounds
ID making q horizontal step of two feet
IS equal to that done in raising vertically
to height of inches(1 -12x9-1 feet.
weight OF 103 pounds 1-12x12s-1
pounds.
The figuring would be thus expressed:
I times 5000 feet is II, 900 feet: - 00O
feet divided by feet Ito each stem
equals 5000 steps taken; 5000 stems
by l0S pounds ito each stem |
equals $4,000 pounds, the total WEIGHT |
lifted. This walking power. ii eoneen. |
rated in single lift, would raise "a. 00c |
pounds (39 tons) two inches high in
one-half second, equivalent to IS TS-10n |
hor Q power, which added |
Q Inc 5ls tons OF weight lifted in sew
ng, give total of 63a tons of vertically
calculated weight lifted during the day
total of 70 78-100 horse power
In absence of figures this would seem
llmost incredible. Is it wonder now
nat she was tried2 In view of this lat
er estimate of nervous power extended
a walking, is it advisable or beneficial
or feeble persons to indulge in long
Walks as an exercise" for the regain
1 strength and health, and does it not
ccount for the fatigue so soon selt hv
uch pefSonsf A moderate, short walk,
Win occasional rests, or riding would
Q oetter for them. Furthermore. this
not all the power expended during the !
ay. For the vital organs, the stomach
lngs, respiratory muscles. liver, etc.
M every Vital process consumed the
erVous power The brain, which was
onslderably exercised in mental activity
guiding the work, is a great con.
amer OF nervous force. So that, taking
Ii together, the sewing woman had 8
cry exhaustive days work.
IL Is worthy of note here that the
uman complex machine, like all other
lachlnery, requires and consumes an =
mount, OF power commensurate with
le work done, and there is no evadinp
lis law nor the penalty of its violation
sewing machine operated by the foot
more exhaustive, in equal time. than
ana sewing, because it does more work
taxes power from the spinal nervous
lis down the nerves of the leo. the
'wer SO used being loss to the BODY
ID tending specially to weaken the
gaens and ligaments of the pelvis. The
binary hand sewing, which is herein :.
own to be very exhaustive of power N N
ually effects a weakening of the
gestive organs, lungs and muscles of Y
e chest. -e' "a
1t may be questioned by some, "If
ereise is SO exhaustive of nervous
rec and SO fatiguing, how can it CON =
zee 10 make person stronger?" This
a very natural query, and it NAV be
US answered. Exercise will strengthen
body only by conforming to certain
Vs and conditions, viz, Firstly. in re-.
rd to power. In this the law of sun r.
and consumption must be observed 7
lch requires that the amount OF merry,
power acquired each day as a result
product of food digested and air in.
red must be more than the power
pended in bodily activity. Food "
q the air are the only souroas Of