New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-09-12
OVERTURNED NERVE CELLS.
THE PHYSIOLOGY OF MENTAL AND
EMOTIONAL ACTIVITY.
SUGGESTIONS OF VALUE TO PARENTS AND OF
INTEREST TO OTHER FOLK.

in their habits and tastes, but are fairly acute
observers, realize that close relation exists
between the condition OF ones nerves and the
quantity and quality of work he can do care
full investigation OF the matter By experts not
only confirms the fact and partially explains
why such should be the case, but affords useful
hints both to parents and teachers in the man
agement Of children, and to adults in securing
the best results from their own activities In
life.
In a discussion Of the influences that often
control the formation Of character. in Tine
Popular Science Monthly" for September. Pro-
fessor NJ. V. Shea examines the physical effects
Of fatigue on that part of the animal organism
known as the nerve cell. This cell is a reservoir
of energy 1t is a sort of storage battery OF
vitality. trifiing stimulus comes to 1T from
without, along of the nerve fbres. exciting
thought, feeling movement Any experience
of this sort involves a discharge as of cleo
tricity along another set Of Gaments and uses
up some of the reserve. Under the microscope
a nerve cell is found to consist Of an outer,
pulpy shell and central nucleus. 1t is i'm
practicable to examine human nerve cells; but
elaborate experiments frogs show that the
nuclei of their nerve cells shrink 10 one-half
their natural size after prolonged stimulation.
1t is a fair inference that a similar change re-
suits from prolonged mental effort or excessive
emotion in Here. then, is the material
or physical side of what sometimes call
nervous exhaustion"
More important, though perhaps less novel.
are the changes in mental vigor. keenness of
perception. and even in what might be consid-
cred moral qualities, which are detected after
| certain amount of brain work. Elaborate tests
with school children reveal distinct falling
off in the ability to receive and retain impress
sOns to distinguish between diagrams almost
| alike but not altogether 50. to notice trifins
differences in color, and so on. With little folk
as we'll big ones. irritabty of temper, lack
Of self-control and various forms Of viciousness
often follow. in addition to these other results;
both, at first. being only temporary manifesto
tions but likely to lead to chronic stupidity
and ugliness OF course, there are great natural
differences between people in their powers of
endurance; but, allowing for this. the same gen
eral effects are produced by Overtaxing ones
nervous energy.
Professor Shea points out some of the agencies
in the home and school which promote brain ia
tigue intellectual sluggishness and emotional
estrangement. Lack of nutrition Is of these.
The cerebral cells in order to remain in a healthy
and normal state. must absorb from the blood
a certain amount Of nutriment daily But they
require particular kind OF material-nOt that
which Is most favorable to the production OF
bone. or OF fat, but albumen. also known as
protein. One-Quarter Of the white matter Of the
brain and one-half Of the gray matter consists
of this substance. OF the various foods most
commonly eaten in this country. beef is especial
ly rich in it. Not less than 1917 per cent OF
beefsteak Is protein: salt Goldfish contains 276
per cent beans 22.2. chicken 1913. rolled oats
| and fresh fish each &c. graham flour II. wheat
| flour II. most pies and buildings about 6 or 7,
and vegetables ION an average) not over ~.
| In several which have been noted
| analysis Of a chd's blood has shown a deficien-
cy Of ve-building elements. A change of diet
has been prescribed. and has been followed by
marked improvement in mental activity. keen.
ness and endurance. well by amability
Stunted intellects and lack of self-control may
| thus be traced, in instances, to lack of proper
food
Intense excitement Of any kind also taxes the
nervous energy. Teasing anything which
provokes antagonism is exhausting. and should
be scrupulously avoided in dealing with delicate
children Overstmulaton to effort in study.
speaking pieces other activities that demand
either thought or feeling. objected to by Pro-
fessor Shea, who says. in closing:
"Precocity is usually succeeded by medocrity
if by nothing worse. 1t is significant that those
races that are most precociOus are ultimately
the least intelligent and progressive more near
ly resembling the lower orders of animal life
where the young possess at birth nearly all the
powers they ever attain. and so are not educable
to any great degree. 1t is to be feared that over
| stimulation in numerous ways of children In
| American homes and schools leads to early ces-
| sation Of and hence to ultimately Inferior
| physical and mental development"