The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-10-23
THE CAUSE OF LANGUOR.
Not TO re COMPOUNDED with True Fatigue.
Cure and Prevention.

i'll Ordinary etdiec VI Iicfuti thc osiNtir
est persons are apt to feel sensations or
fits Of languor which they call fatigue,
and for which they can give no reason
able explanation either to themselves or
10 others. The weather largely influ-
ences this condition A moist and warm
atmosphere always increases the disposi.
ton to languor; a moderately cold aud
dry atmosphere always prevents IT. The
sense of relaxation and disposition 10
sleep must not he COMPOUNDED with true
fatigue. arising from hard or prolonged
physical or mental work, hut must be
taken rs simply due to condition III
which there is WEAKNESS without 4 suf-
fcent reason for 1t.
When this condition is strongly pres
ent. it is marked by one particular sign.
which is of itself characteristic: it comes
on after repose The affected person ex-
pcriences it most on rising in the morn
ing. and even after good nights sleep
is still oppressed by senaof WEAKNESS,
a feeling as if the dav, With all its cares
and anxieties, could not be passed
through. The desire, almost irresistible.
is to go to sleep again, desire which. If
gratifed. increases the evil and makes
the day heavier than it otherwise would
be. That it is rot real fatigue or cxhaus-
ton which causes the sense of languor
now being described is clearly shown,
not only by the fact that tho feeling
comes on after long repose, but that 1t Is
dispersed in the day after it has been
present in the morning, by the exercise
and duties Of the day. / have no doubt
that it is caused by the accumulation in
the body Of come difusible and light
chemical substance, which acts after the
manner Of an intoxicant and is a true in
toxicant to the nervous system. The
probable physiology of the condition Is
plain, but what is to be the cuic. and,
above all, what is 10 be the preyer 'ioni
The cure is exercise and the wearing
Of clothing which will give free liberia
ton to the exhalations Of the skin.
Every one who is affected with the sense
Of languor is soon conversant with the
knowledge that if he resolves to throw
off the load which Expresses him and
takes a short, sharp walk or other good
and wholesome exercise. he is always re-
lieved. and many find this mode Of cure
so certain that they invariably follow it.
Others. and | fear the majority, are so
oppressed that hey feel as II they could
not bring themselves to the effort of
throwing off the sense of WEAKNESS by
resorting to anything like active motion.
When the oppression Is the strongest and
exertion is most demanded. they try 10
balance betwiXt the two modes OF treat
ment. the sharp cxeftion and the seduc-
tive sleep. They give way to the sleep;
the giving way becomes habit: IN "A
very short time the habit lapses into a
confirmed method. and with the habit
structural changes in vital organs Of the
body are soon set up, and add rapidly 20
the evil. The body becomes obese, the
liver becomes inactive. tlH mind becomes
dull. and short life is, OF necessity, de-
termincd
The treatment Of languor in the healthy
consists, then. IN taking exercise m due,
but in moderate amount. To 90 in for
desperate exercise. as some do. IS to
Illustrate, not TO assist, cure; for dcsper-
ate exercise produces actual fatigue,
which nothing except rest will cure. and
then the WEAKNESS from actual work and
the WEAKNESS from underworld get con-
fused the one with the other, and all goes
wrong. Rightly conducted, the cure Is
exercise. and the prevention Is continued
exercise carried ont daily and regularly.
whatever the temptation may be 10 givc
il up. Second 10 this is light and porous
clothing. as have many years taught.
Whatever holds or takes up the fund OK
halations from the skin Is not clothing fit |
TO wear. Whatever cannot be easily |
breathed through is not clothing that is
fit TO wear
No kind Of clothing for the human |
BODY is 50 good as that which admits |
freely into and through its meshe. the |
most perfect purifier and the most per-
feet non-conductor and healthy equalizer |
of temperature known - atmospheric |
air. Patients sometimes come TO me lit /
orally borne dorm with the weight Of |
their own clothing They are coated |
with three or four LAYERS Of heavy and |
close materials These materials ere /
saturatei with the moisture from The skln. !
are unduly heavy, are always damp. If |
taken or for a short time leave excessive |
cold, and if kept on too long indacc OPP |
pressiye heat; al round mischIcfs Of sure /
and certain development. y fairly /
healthy person who takes reasonable out /
door exercise daily, and who ciothe- hinl- 7
self lightly in porous material, viii feel .
no weariness except that which comes /
naturally from healthy fatigue. DIR.
Richardson in The Asclepiad.