Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1901-03-15
THE HUMAN BRAIN.
NEW POWER THAT MAY BE DE-
VELOPED UNCONSCiOUSLY.
following the Use of Alcohol intellectual Ac.
ton is Increased, But There Comes Re.
dictionary Condition - How the Fifth
Nerve" is Often UnconsciousIy Stimulated.
New York Pos

New York Post.
Stimuli that are used to dispel
fatigue, bring about roseate hues Of
life, and drive away the ravages Of
pain, arc familiar to every one. Among
the narcotics which act upon the
brain and lessen its condition of ex-
citability, ultimately inducing state
of sleep, we are familiar with bromide
of potassium, chloral, opium, NOR
phine, cocaine in particular, and a
dozen others. Instances are cited by
physicians in which even these drugs
bring about a state of excitability.
On the other hand, with the possible
exception of alcohol, the stimuli
which foster intellectual activity and
increase the brain output are often
overlooked. Recent medical investi-
CATION has gone far to show that
alcohol does not act with the enliven.
ing effect which its users are won't to
assert it produces on the brain. After
brief period in which, by actual
measurement $50 asserts a prominent
New York doctor), the intellectual ac-
ton is increased, there comes a re-
dictionary condition in which the
users mental celebrity is depressed be-
low its normal level.
Psychologists maintain that to &C
celerate ones thoughts one must do
something to stimulate a peculiar lit
tie nerve leading to the brain-tech-
nically known as the " fifth nerve"
They assert that the consciousness or
Inconsistencies stimulation Of this
delicate branch of our nervous system,
or increase in blood supply to the
brain, is the whole reason why we say
we "think better to-day than usual"
This " fifth nerve" says T. Lauder
Brunton, an Edinburgh surgeon, lies
approximately in the temples. It ap.
pears, according to the same authority,
that half of the expedients to which
We innocently resort to "make our
selves comfortable" when writing or
doing work which involves consider
able 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
mind certain habits of which he has
incurred in doing his work. For ex.
ample, 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 so old and dis
crepit that ait wanted TO lean up
against post to think" The prim-
ary object in both cases, SO physiolo.
gists claim, is to induce an increased
supply of blood to the brain, and thus
afford stimulation. 1t is said that
one OF the best known writer's of the
day-a thin, tall man with fine head
and slender body - writes kneeling
down upon a sofa, with his paper rest
ing on the end OF the sofa, so that his
head and his heart are nearly on a
level. This position, though some
what 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 iel.
low a question that requires thought
to answer, he is likely to scratch his
head. Germans are famous for slap
ping their noses with their fingers.
These experiments stimulate the fifth
nerve" One psychologist relates that
the late Lord Derby used to eat
branded cherries when engaged in his
classical work, to stimulate the gusta-
tory nerves, and by so doing the
" fifth nerve" Cigarette smoking is a
common expedient; some chew to.
bacco, others eat fruit, candy, or some.
thing of that sort. The taking of
snuff is said to act ON this susceptible
nerve. Possibly this may explain the
prediction of the intellectual worthless
in the days of rare Ben Jonson,"
when the snuff-box was the INSOFAR
able adjunct to the cultured gentle.
man. Shifting of ammonia, slipping,
tasting, chewing of various prepara-
ticns, all aid unconsciously in q more
vigorous stimulation of the brain.
Alcohol, says DR.. Brunton, acts for
the moment as a brain stimulant,
while in the mouth; taken into the
stomach it increases the heart action,
but subsequently acts as q narcotic.
1t seems that tb ere is no rule to gov
ern the ways OF increasing mental
activity. Anything which causes in.
creased supplies of blood to the brain.
or arouses to action the sensitive
fifth nerve" may perform this feat.
1t depends on the particular ingenuity
OF the subject, apparently, and might
be governed by Lincoln's terse advice
If you like that kind of thing it's