Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-02
TO AVOID BRAIN FATIGUE.
Rest for the Society Woman-How
to Work.

Paris Correspondence Pail Mall Gazette.
DR.. Toulouse. the interesting medical
writer, discusses the cause and prevention
Of brain flag which brings on neuras-
thenia and other troubles Every Partisan
with large circle Of acquaintance is par
ttculariy overworked at this time of year.
To his ordinary business or professional
dnties-probably augmented by the neces-
sity to produce a balance sheet of his
years transactions--is added a round OF
social observances entailing considerable
fatigue. Not even the most lazy person,
declares the doctor. occupying herself
with toilets and teas. or the tranquil
bureaucrat can escape the evil. Il know
a rich society man who has contracted
grave nervous troubles by occupying him.
self too closely and injudiciously with q
small collection Of rare books.
There are two sorts Of intellectual ac-
tivities The first Is spontaneous, as
when we mediate on subjects which are
rather vague: Ambitious dreams, emo
tional memories or general wool gather
ing. The mind goes and comes. makes
excursions and returns to the central
point and dashes of again on a thousand
subtle trains Of thought. This activity
Is the least fatiguing. Easy reading.
such as novels of action, travels and
memoirs. approach this kind OF thought.
"A work where creation Is the i'm
portant element often takes this turn:
and this will surprise many persons who
have great respect for mental specula-
ton. A great savant like Henri Poincare.
the French mathematician, or a poet like
Musset proceeds in this manner without
more restraint or fatigue than that.
THAT Is why artists, savants inventors
and business men are capable Of remain
ing so long at their work
Our second mode of intellectual ac-
tivity is more question of will power.
The conscious attention is constant and
retains the mind on a straight road.
which it cannot leave. An accountant
the brain suffers from malaise which d.
minishes its power of activity. little
sum In figures increases excessively the
fatigue. Creation by effort Of the will is
very wearing"
The doctor concludes that work which
tellectually nor muscularly, such as copy
ing, sewing. folding, ETC., depresses the,
energies to the point of rendering the,
effort painful. :
that work exhausts by reason Of its in
tellectual value. The efforts of a trans
Iator can be more fatiguing for the brain
than the inventive work of a savant In
his laboratory. That which definitely
counts Is the expenditure of energy ana
not the result. ar
''In work one must Danish from the
mind all that Is not useful: the tumult or
ideas ana Feelings winch accompany M
persons insufficiently trained a sustained'
application, just as the novice on the biz,
cycle unnecessarily contracts his mus
cles." ~,
Among other advice the doctor gives,
to avoid the symptoms Of the fashionable.
complaint Is to establish neutral zones
in ones work-occupation Of a less ipli
tensity. The society woman should read
in between her fatiguing visits: In the
world We are counseled TO-
go out and buy something in a crowded
shop or to attend to q machine when We
are fatigued. And It is the pace that
kills. Hasten slowly. When we have
much to do we gre to go slower. And TO,
the shop assistant he says: Don't try to-,
serve two people at once" y,
Finally we are to know when We are
doing too much by the quality of our
Sleep. II It Is troubled by dreams OF
work then 1t is time to put on the
brake. 49,