New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-24

FATIGUE BY A. Mosso. Professor % Physioogy
~ 49, ,' r,7s-7-9-,4 n A. and W n Druumond
II. Is. Svo -. Nlv. "a G. T. E'otilafn 8 s7o-9-
Cerebral fatigue. commonly known brain
fag." fs the chief theme in this interesting "orA
BY the famous italian Psychologist. already "a
vorabiy known 70 the English speaking word
through the translation OF his monograph or
fear. Professor AIosso is a scientist With the
happy faculty OF expressing himself IN language
perfectlv ineligible 10 the lay mind. and this
without any obvious effort 70 'popUlarize" his
t-aat.qes in his present work. the translation
OF which has been admirably done. De has chosen
q theme that must be of especial Interest 10
Americans ~ we adopt Boards view that the
people o. the United states suffer from over
pressure more than do the people of any other
country. He looks Al hts subject from many
points Of view. analyzing and explaining mus
culsr fatigue IN so far as is necessary 10 show
the correlation between exhaustion OF body and
exhaustion Of mind. As a result OF observa-
tions and experiments extending over several
years. he has arrived az conclusions. some Of
which CONFIRM while others controvert prevail
ing theories OF psychology ana pedagogy. and II
must be said that he marshals his evidence In
convincing fashion.
These conclusions are the subject matter %
the most important portions Of his work. and
Il is but right that the readers attention should
be chiefly drawn 10 them Attention itself by
the way, IL shown by Professor Mosso 20 be IN
no sense q strain On the intellect. but mar
venous saving OF energy. and he makes the sur
rrising deduction arguing from analogy, that
It is to be included IN the category OF reflex
movements From the materialstic standpoint.
the view that there are nerves CT attention IS
strengthened by the fact that IL the brain is
fatigued q IS almost impossible 20 be attentive"
The art OF teaching classes OF students lies
chiefly. therefore, IN knowing how long and by
what means one can retain the attention Of the /
pupils The best masters are those Who never /
fatigue too much any one region Of their pupils
brains 30 that their attention. being directed 4
now here. now there obtains some rest, and |
Is better able 10 grapple with the main sub /
sect Of the lesson"
The theory IS advanced that fatigue appears IN 4
a nerve cell after three or four seconds Of work /
but that prolonged activity OF the brain, despite
!. the rapid inroads OF fatigue. Is possible owing /
i 20 the fact that there are IN the brain two .
Thousand million cells which co duty FOR one 4
another This in some measure confirms the /
common idea that change OF occupation. by CIV \
ing tired brain cells an opportunity to recuper- /
ate Is q uauaCea FOR fatigue; but this is true, 4
Professor aosso insists only when the physical 4
condition is good. That silence is an important /
factor In increasing the ability 20 concentrate \
is another deduction furnishing food for thought \
and educationists should pay especial heed TO IT, /
On the other hand. the writer conuadicts the I
idea. entertained by many. that intellectual .
work be better done at night when silence /
IN the environment is the rule and not the /
exception. Here. il appears, physiological causes
Intervene. notably the durnal variations of ner-
vous activity. But here. as Professor Mosso IS
forced TO admit. physiology finds herself IN an
almost unexplOred region, and doubtless. In /
spite OF all the arguments advanced by physi- /
ologists and psychologists there viii be 10 the /
end OF time writers who imagine that they can I
do better work by night than by day
The close relation between body and mind IN \
the phenomena Of fatigue is emphasized by the
fact that after a long walk or any violent exer-
else one rs less lit for study. From this il Is
argued that while periods OF scloolwork should
be varied frequently by periods OF play, pupils
should never be allowed TO alternate the study /
hours by gymnastics or any strenuous game.
A capital example OF the effect Of muscular
fatigue on the intellect IS furnished by the ex-
periences OF Alpine tourists, who find their ca
pacity FOR attention. and their memory. greatly
weakened after making laborious aecents. The
author notes that although he has scaled sew
sral peaks he cannot remember anything he
Saw In high attitudes. Mountain climbing was
not the only form OF energetic observation un-
dertaben by the professor in his quest for
knowledge. He hunted qUails. trained and eXer-
cised carrier pigeons. followed rowing races and
took trips with sarcine fishermen, FOR no other
purpose than TO acquire additional information
the phenomena OF fatigue. lis &C
counts OF these expeditions add not little 10
the readabIeness Of his work Fatigue itself is
regarded by him as a form Of poisoning, cis-
terminating toxic products which may alter the
constitution OF the blood and the conditions OF
ife without our being aware Of il. or giving
the faintest sign OF exhaustion" Il IS wei
known that fatigue varies with the disposition
o. the individual. and This increases the com
plexity OF the problems involved In its physio-
logical study. Exercise and habit have great
influence IN enabling the individual to resist
fatigue. An interesting instance OF the rapidly
with which unframed minds succunlb 20 a novel
Intellectual exercise. producing violent physl-
cal reaction. Is quoted from an Italian military
officer:
At the class examinations At which soldiers
have give proof that they are not illiterate /
IN order 10 obtain their discharge. ! have OFTEN I
seen strong men perspire until drops OF sweat
fell upon the paper. At Lecco / saw one faint
mand another trial: but. the threshold a I
sight OF the paper and book he turned pale ana
fell into fresh faint.
Education OF course. accelerates thought and
the action OF ones nerves-as is seen IN the
ease with which city people tread through
crowds. while those from sparsely settled dis
tr1cts bump their way along; bat nothing can
prevent an unpleasant reaction n the brain is
overstrained. One OF the best chapters IN the
v ork is thai devoted to a study OF "overpress-