The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-01
Eight Hour Shift
Seems. to Produc e
BestResults, Though
Character of Work
Proves a Striking
Guide
By ROBERT c. sKERRETT.

Industrial fatigue IN factories, IN munltlon
plants and in sliipyards Just at present
industrial fatigue is an archally of the
Kaisers.
Industrial fatigue is not just ordinary
WEAKNESS. 1t is not the instructive sur
render to the conscious demands of over
worked muscles. If such it were the
problem of holding industrial fatigue in
check or avoiding some Of its serious re-
actions would be a comparatively easy
matter.
Industrial fatigue, unfortunately, is in
frequently evidenced by the warnings of
bodily sensations. 1t generally betray,
itself in a diminished capacity for doini:
work-a diminution that entails imper-
feet product, reduced output and often
accident before the victim of this creeping
sickness, so to speak, is aware Of his i'm
paired condition.
progressively, and it captures or domi-
mates certain strategic centres of the body
long before the muscles surrender be-
cause of exhaustion, as the latter term is
commonly understood. The so-called ami
NAL side of our being does its work
through three departments of activity.
First, there is the one that embraces the
nervous mechanisms of the brain and
spinal cord, which initiate and distribute
impulses to action. Next, we have the
nerves which carry these calls to action
to the muscles; and finally, we have that
department which is composed of the
muscles themselves.
Body Filled With Waste.
These various activities, through the
agencies Of the brain, spinal cord, nerves
and muscles, not only use up their self
contained sources of chemical energy
the promoting causes of workout they
lead to the accumulation within the body
of by-produets or wastes induced by the.
chemical changes involved. The result is
fairly analogous to getting sand in the
gear box of a motor car or permitting
dust or dirt to clog the wheels of sensi-
tive mechanism. We have very good
smile in watch where the lubricant has
become fouled through minute particles
of matter. The movement is progressively
slowed up.
While most of us associate work with
muscular action and look upon our
muscles as the willing horses of our phys
zeal organism, as a matter of fact the
brain and the spinal cord hold the reins
and are the quickest fatigued. Therefore
thew cease to send directive signals to the
muscles by way of the nerves long before
the muscles are too weary to function.
In the tired man, which to-day means
likewise the very helpful woman, the ex-
perts tell us, "the symptoms OF fatigue
are referred to the muscles; they ache, or
they may appear to give way under him.
but in reality the most severe bodily activ-
ity fails to produce any close approach to
eomplete fatigue of the muscles" That
state of the nervous system, though in
sensation its effects may be attributed to
the muscles themselves. Therefore, accord
ing to the authorities. "the problems OF
industrial fatigue are primarily and al
most wholly problems of fatigue In the
nervous system and Of its direct and indi-
rect effects
Must Have Both Action and Rest.
The well ordered industrial life demands
a proper apportionment of action and
rest, and it is by means of the latter that
a period of recovery is provided to offset
the consequences of effort. In order to
maintain the requisite balance between
action and repair throughout long series
it is essential that action and pause be
spaced more or less rhythmieally.
For instance, we go on breathing during
a long life. and yet unless We overtax the