The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1907-12-12
OvERW0RK MAY CAUSE CRIME
Mental Strain Render nen Unac-
countabie.

anu INhdSlS lllS Nl(lllll IIlCSpOuSl-
bic for his actions. and weakens
his power of selfcontrol.
The banker is confined to his
counter, the student is tempted
to push his sedentary habits into
the hours required for repose, the
public man and politician undergo
every form of mental strain. The
cerebral system is overtaxed, the
normal controlling power becomes
diminished, and the person be-
comes more of less for a certain
time abnormal, not only in his
Judgment, but in his natural pro-
pensities.
To such an extent is this some
times seen that crime is often the
result of this disordered state of
the nervous system.
Overwork not only increases tn e
number of,the insane, as is admit
ted by all, but, as 1 have Just stat
ed, is responsible for an increase
in crime. Where crime exists
there is often bad insanity, and
vice versa. so what leads to one
result will obviously leads to one
other. Increased cerebral activity
! is the cause of this calamity.
The evils of excessive study
generally do not act in one direc-
ton only, they manifest them
selves in a morbid condition of the
organ of thought, which reacting
on the mind itself, disorders its
manifestations. Excessive mental
thought causes disorganization of
the while nervous system and fbers
of the delicately made brain.
1t is well known psychologist
cal fact that suicide is often the
result of an overworked brain, and
desire TO commit murder can Of
ten be attributed to the same
cause. These, in my opinion, are
two of the most terrible crimes
that can possible be committed.
Excessive mental labor has thus
often stolen away many a valuable
life which might, with ordinary
preCaution, have been saved. The
attack is often sudden, the brain
having been pressed till it can go
no further, suddenly collapses and
gives way. The long and gallant
struggle with circumstances the
work of toll, tells the tale when
the brain refuses to further re-
spond. believe that many cases
of crime can be traced to the over
work and over pressure which is
going on i'll Our large public
schools and our universities.
l hold a very strong opinion
that before overwork can produce
crime in an Individual it must
first weaken the nervous system,
and produce an incipient form of
mental disorder.
l cannot see that overwork per
Sc can in any way be stated to be
cause for crime unless, as I have
said before, the brain is partially
affected, and as a result in some
cases, the mental and moral power
of control is lost and criminal
act is often the direct result.
( The evils of excessive study
generally, and not simply in one
exclusive direction, manifest them
selves in morbid conditions of the
organ of thought, which, reacting
on the mind itself, disorders its
manifestations.
Hence, it has often been observ-
ed how narrow the bonds are be-
tween madness and crime, and how
frequently the organ breaks down
under the strain 10 which it has
been subjected; hence it is that
many intellectual suns have arisen
in brightness, and set in darkness
have illumined the world by their
morning or midday glory, and
then they have been forever eclips.
ed by suicide, insanity, or crime