Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-22

ganlsm De normal ana healthy to commence
with; but If the brain has to use deformed
eyes, or obtain its blood supply from a
feeble heart, or to use for fuel blood which
contains salts, or rleucomaines, or albumeses,
which are irritating or narcotic or otherwise
harmful, then trouble of some kind may be
confidently anticipated.
Exercise" or "bodily exercise" or
physical exercise" are terms commonly
used as if they were related only to muscu-
lar action, and the amount of exercise which
a man should take in q day is stated in
terms of mechanical force. For example,
it is estimated that healthy man ought to
take daily amount of exercise equal to
150-foot tons, that is to the force required
| to lift $50 tons one foot high.
But the physical exercise which have
in mind is exercise of the nervous system
also. 1t would be possible to produce by
electrical stimuli the contraction OF the in
| dividual muscles concerned in walking in
such a way that each muscle would be large
and strong, and yet that the person possess
ing them would be unable to walk because
the nerve centers which control the action
of these muscles had not received their
share of the exercise and training. The act
of walking requires not only that the
muscles shall contract, but that they shall
contract and relax in certain order, so as
the desired movements and no others, and
this coordination is effected by means of
the nervous system.
When Walking Becomes Automatic.
In some kinds of coordination, as in
walking, the action of the nervous system
soon becomes automatic and is performed
without conscious effort; but when the will
must be exerted in order to produce the
movement desired, the work of the nervous
system is greater, and fatigue and exhaus-
tion will result more quickly, not neces-
sarily because more muscular force has been
evolved, but because more central nervous
gray tissue has been used up.
The strong muscles of the smiths arm
will give out before those of a skilled
musician if both are set to running simple
scales on the piano.
Du Bois Raymond defines exercise as
'':he frequent repetition of more or less
complicated action of the body with the CO.
operation of the mind, or of an action of
the mind alone for the purpose of being able
to perform such action better" The defni
tion is in the main a'good one; but the pur-
pose of the brainworker in exercising may
not be, and usually is not, to perform the
action better. His objects may be-frst, to
rest one part of his brain by setting another
part at work to coordinate certain muscles;
second, to strengthen the heart snd improve
the circulation and oxidation of the blood;
third, to get rid of unnecessary fatty tissue;
fourth, to improve appetite and digestion,
and fifth, to obtain sleep. The form of exer-
else which will be of most use to him in his
daily life will be that which can be contin-
ued for a considerable time without produc-
ing breathlessness or irregular action of the
heart, or what is called the exercise of en-
durance; yet to this should be added some
exercise requiring rapid action for short
time-the so-called exercise of speed.
Brainwork When Muscles Are Fatigued.
Walking is type of exercise of endur-
ance; practice with light dumbbells is a
good exercise of speed. That form of ex-
ercise whose object is to develop strength,
such as the lifting of weights, ETC., is not a
desirable form for brain workers Physical
exercise has its evil as well as its good side.
Many people seem to suppose that plenty
of exercise is sovereign remedy or pre-
ventive for most disorders, and that the
more one gets of it the more brainwork he
can do, and the less care he need take in
other respects. This is incorrect; man
cannot do his best thinking when his mus
cles are fatigued. Gentle exercise, such as
walking, will often help the brainwork, be-
cause it increases the rapidity of the crcu-
lation; but violent exercise has contrary
effect. For the great majority of literary
workers athletic exercises are of doubtful
utility.
The question of brain rest and physical
exercise should be considered with reference
to the usual daily routine of work and to
vacations If it be possible to give up all
work for a month or six weeks in the year,
and to spend this time in the woods, among
the mountains or on the sea-hunting, fish
ing, riding, walking-doing almost anything
in fact that will keep one for the greater
part of the time in the open air and SUM-
light, and which will interest him in mat
ters outside OF his ordinary work, it will be
time and money well spent. This, however,
will not do away with the need for a certain
amount of regular daily exercise when he is
at home attending to business
Prescription for an Average Man.
1t is impossible to lay down definite rules
as to the amount and kind of this exercise
which is required to preserve health and yet
shall not involve a waste of time and energy.
The most that can be said is that the muscles
should be kept in fair normal condition.
Probably for the majority of men 10 or Is
minutes work with light dumbbells on
rising in the morning. with bath and thor
ough rubbing, and from three to five miles
walk during the day is sufficient and not
excessive.
The force required IN walking on a level !
surface is estimated as equal to raising one
twentieth of the weight Of the body through |
the distance walked. The objections to |
are that it takes too much time, and |
that it is shirked in disagreeable weather |
and on hot days. Time, however, is an
essential element in exercise for BRAIN |
workers-and there are not ten days in the !
year too rainy or too hot to permit ones |
getting a two mile walk at least some time |
during the day. 1t is important to have |
some other object for the walk or ride than |
of mere exercise. otherwise it is apt to be- |
come dsagreeable duty; hence, compan-
ionship in exercise is desirable.
The thing to be remembered in deciding |
upon the character and amount of the mus |
cular work to be done is that the object is
not to obtain strong muscles, but rather |
fresh air, good digestion, change of thought, |
and sound sleep, and that to insure this it is |
far better to begin before one feels the need |
of it than afterward; for thus, and thus only, |
can one have reasonable expectation that |
the best and pleasantest part of his life will |
come after he is so years old.
J. S. BILLINGS, M. D.
LABOR IN ALAsKA'S WILDa