Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-16
TO PROIONG LIFE.
Brain Wear and Ravages in the Human
Family.

From the British Medical Journal
How TO prolong human life is a question of
personal interest to every man, and the duty
or making an attempt to do so is one that
particularly rests with the medical profession.
When individual has attained to full de-
velopment and sound health-say at forty-the
expectancy of life may be twenty-five or thirty
years; for the individual there greatrisks but
with the aggregate of mankind such questions
may be calculated with business-like accuracy.
There are two great factors which concern the
prolongation Of a human iife-the inheritance.
and the conditions which make up life history
of the individual The inheritance OF long
evity from one or both parents is a powerful
factor. and one that carries great weight with
life insurance offices. This is a more i'm
pOrtant factor than an infancy free Of weak
ness, provided that the infantile ailments be
dependent upon temporary conditions of de-
fective nutrition. conditions incident to the
stages of development only. The late En-
perOr William, and many other public men
OF great age and useful life, illustrate that
feeble youth may be followed by a robust
and prolonged life. Even conditions of infan-
tile marasmus may be followed by subsequent
good development, as in the case of Sir Isaac
Newton We now proceed TO speak of average
people, for "a perfect man. can hardly be said
20 exist; we shall consider average people,
especially as we see them in town life, and the
special conditions we desire to note are the
habits, diet and the wear of life There is no
doubt as TO the Importance of the habits of
life affecting longevity; temperance in all
things. in activity and in restraint in regu-
larlty IN morning rising and in work, as well as
IN resting and in sleeping; uniform industry is
as conducive to health as is regularity in diet
The acquisition of regularity in habits is largely
due to early training, and in this way wisely
directed school discipline probably does much
10 form a sound and steadily acting nerve sys-
TEN, such a. give the man power of resisting
adverse influences and prolonginc physical
health. From the period of infancy upward
sound and well-knit brain has much to do with
the pernanence OF healthy constitution. The
relation of diet to longevity has often been dis
cussed: we can only say here that the diet should
be adapted, in quality and in kind, 10 the work
OF the individual; while such articles alcohol,
tobacco and tea. il used at ALL should be en-
ployed in moderation by those who wish for a
stable constitution and prolonged life. Passing
over such important consideration, as being
familiar to most members of the profession we
come to the great question of the causes of
wear in hfe-the outcome of the frictions of
life which all must meet with more or less
The various factors at work, especially in a
town life, make impressions on the brain which
lead to fatigue and premature wear. The
strOng-brained individual may not be hurt
thereby; the weaker man is exhausted by such
constant impressions from withous, and
second generation under such influences is
likely to suffer, through loss of tone and
vitality, III cell ratner than actual
stature or measurement. City life necessarily
produces a rapid and unceasing series
of impressions, and calls for constant
exertion. The laws of sanitation and cere-
bral hygiene should, then. be carefully
studied. 1t is very desirable to have what
quietness is possible during brain work, and
the necessity for proper ventilation as a means
of maintaining mental energy is well known.
IL might lessen brain wear in many offices if
electric lighting were substituted for gas IL
Elimination. Good digestion is essential to con-
tinued work with good lasting power. Late
rising and still more hurried luncheon and
rush back to work. followed, at the conclusion
Of the day, by heavy meal when the man is
wearied, often tend to exhaustion, as much as
the unavoidable pressure of business. A most
rational refreshment after heavy brain work is
to partake of light refreshment and then rest
for half an hour before dinner; thus the power
of digestion and social enjoyment are restored
to the man. Probably the chief means of pre-
pairing man to Withstand the wear of business
life Is by careful training, both physical and
mental. before he enters upon the struggle and
wear OF business. One means of increasing the
chances of longevity is by training the child
wisely. Many premature breakdown of
health Is due to that want of preliminary exer-
else which would not be neglected by the
athlete without disaster