The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-23
FORMS OF BRAIN STIMULI.
Light on the Subject Through the
Researches of PHYSICIANS.


| NEW YORK, Feb 22-stlmuli that are
| used to dispel fatigue. bring about
roseate hues of life. and drive away the
ravages of pain, are familiar to every
one. Among the narcotics which act
upon the brain and lessen It's condition
OF excitability, ultimately inducing a
state OF sleep, we are familiar with bro
| mide of potassium. choral. opium. NOR
phine, cocaine in particular. and a doz-
en- others. Instances are cited by ply
siclans in which even these drugs bring
about state OF 2xcltability On the
other hand, with the possible exception
of alcohol the stimuli which foster in
tellectual activity and increase the brain
output are often overlooked. Recent
medical investigation has gone far to
show that alcohol does not act with the
enlivening effect which It's users are wont
to assert it produces on the brain. After
brief period in which. by actual meas
urement ESQ asserts a prominent New
York doctorl, the intellectual action ls
increased. there comes reactiOnary con-
dition in which the users mental CELEBRITY
is depressed below its normal level.
Psychologists maintain that to acceler-
ate ones thoughts one must do something
to stimulate n peculiar little nerve lead
the "Gfth nerve" They assert that the
conscious or unconscious stimulation Of
this delicate branch OF our nervous sys-
TEN. or increase In blood supply to the
brain. IL the whole reason why we say we
think better today than usual This
NTH nerve" says r. Lauder Brunton.
an Edinburgh surgeon, lies approximately
In the temples. IL appears according to
the same authority, that half Of the ex-
mod iAFaNn IL .I.
to make ourselves comfortable" when
writing or doing work which involves con
siderable mental concentration. are our
own peculiar mannerisms of waking up
this little nerve
A moments thought on the part Of any
mental worker will recall to his mjrd
certain habits which he has incurred in
doing his work. For example, great
many can think with greater clearness
when on their feet trampIng up and down
Others. on the other hand. prefer to be
perfectly quiet. They recall the story OF
Mark Twain's horse in his new Pilgrims
Progress" which was 40 old and decrepit
that II wanted to lean up against a post
TO think" The primary object In both
cases. so psychologists claim is to indu;e
an increased supply Of blood to tine brain.
and thus afford stimulation. II is aid
that one Of the best known writer's OF the
slender body-writes kneeling down upon
a sofa with his paper resting on the end
of the sofa, SO that his head and his heart
are nearly on a level. This position,
though somewhat unconventional, secures
a free supply of blood to the brain+
Others may have the head on the chin.
or press the hands against the temples. II
you ask an ignorant fellow question that
requires thought to answer he is likely to
scratch his head. Another will pull his
mustache or beard. Germans are famous
for slappIng their noses with thee' fingers.
These expedIents stimulate the fifth
nerve" One physiologist relates that the
late Lord Derby used to eat branded
cherries when engaged in his classical
work, to stimulate the gustatory nerves.
and by so doing the fifth nerve" Cigar
cite smoking IS a common expedient:
seine chew tobacco; others eat fruit. candy !
or something of that sort. The taking OF
snuff is said to act on this susceptible
nerve. Possibly this may explain the pre-
objection of the intellectual worthless in |
the days of rare Ben Jonson." when the !
snUf1bOX was the inseparable adjunct TO |
the cultured gentleman Smiling of am
monia slipping. tasting. chewing of vari- !
Gus preparations, all aid unccnsciously in |
a more vigorous stimulation of the brain. |
Alcohol SAYS DR.. Brunton. acts for the !
moment as a brain stimnlant, while in the |
mouth; taken into the stomach it in |
creases the heart action. but subsequently 1
acts as a narcotic. 1t seems that there |
is no rule to govern the ways = .,ss--e=7---
Ing mental activity. Anything which /
causes Increased supplies OF blood to the |
brain, or arouses to action the sensitive {
fifth nerve" may perform this feat II l
depends on the particular ingenuity OF the !
subject, apparently. and might be gov
nrnpd ly I.iuCOlu'g Tprcp advice. vntf I
like that kind OF thing it's just what you
like