Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-11-09
REST AND EXERCISE.
underworld is Quite as Harmful as
OVerWork.

ONSi WI
underworld is quite as harmful as
overwork. But proper rest is Of eX~
ceeding Importance. Any excess OF
work decreases instead of increases
strength. WhyS muscles work heat is
generated They burn among the prod
ucts of their combustion, being car
bonic and some other acids Now,
these acids hinder further action, as
the product of the combustion of coal
-ashes-deadens Il fire. The sensation
we experience from this physiological
cloggfng is fatigue-naturc's warning
to rest or suffer the consequences. If.
when fatigue is felt, further action
ceases, the blood impenetrating the
muscles carries away their products.
Fatigue then disappears and the mus
cles are in condition to renew their
activity. So periods of rest after eX-
e q ion are absolutely necessary.
In some muscles, like those of the
heart and breathing organs, the periods
of rest between the rhythmical efforts
balance the effects of the efforts; hence,
in our normal condition, our heart and
lungs never feel tired.
There is every reason to believe that
when fatigue is profound ana too fire.
quently repeated renovation is not
thorough, and there is consequently
loss of strength.
Constant physical strain. even though
it be slight. saps nervous force. To
feel well more energy must be formed
than is expended. Now. Willie work,
hv stimulating the heart and lungs.
produces energy, at the same time it
eXpendS it, yet during work more en-
ergy is necessarily expended than is
formed. Energy accumulateS in the
rest after work, but only when rest is
sufficient will the total energy formed
exceed the total expended. When work
is excessive rest cannot be sufficient
and we have Il loss of energy.
On the other hand, if rest he excess
i've. as when one works too little. we
still have Il loss of energy. for in this
case. although the expenditure is con-
paratively slight it is constant, and it
is not fully reformed, because there is
little stimulation of the sources of en-
ergy.
Unless rest has been preceded by
work, but little energy forms in quies~
cence.
TO be beneficial. exercise should be
stimuIative ana not exhaustive Let
me explain just what l mean. An eX
ercisc is stimulatiVc when the fatigue
caused by it is partial and is ut the
same time exciting enough to attract
much nutriment and oxygen to the
parts involved. Thus will the gain eX
ceed the loss. All vigorous exercises
are stimulative. They cannot be eX-
hauStive. for. being vigorous. they re-
Quire in their performance fairly fresh
muscles. One has to discontinue such
exercise when but partially tired. They
are StimulativC. because the blood flow
to parts vigorously eXcrted is far great
or ana more prolonged than would lie
The blood flow TO parts slightly eX-
crtcd. Exhaustive exercises are those
that are prolonged for many hours. and
these, not being vigorous. may lie con-
tinued to the point of extreme fatigue.
Economy of energy. which we hear 50
much about. is desirable only when one
performs as much work as he should
and when therefore, any excess is in
furious Such 4 one may acquire the
habit of resting. He should. when he
can, at odd times during the day. thor
oughly relax himself. learn to take
things easy. DO not rush and tear
when mere habit is the only excuse for
il. Some persons go always as though
FOR Il doctor or to catch Il train. Deli
cate women, oppressed With the strain
of housework, would be benefited by
breaking their work with occasional
intervals of rest. They should sit when
not obliged to stand and lean back in
n chair when they need not be bolt up
right.
AS to the amount of sleep required
by the average man, / think that seven
hours is sufficient. Some constitutions
may need an hour more; some may do
with an hour less. Growing youths and