South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-08-24
THE PHILOSOPHY OF RIGHT LIVING
The Nervous System
By JOHN LORlMER WORDEN. B. S.

scious centers. So it is imperative
that We get as ideal a sleeping loca-
I ton as possible in order TO receive
I the best benefits
II the digestive function is 10 be
. properly performed. We must have
a well rested nervous system. To
work hard or play hard and then go
20 a meal with a highly excited
nervous mechanism is conducive 10
great evil. Alteration from one form
Of employment 10 another form. or
from enc kind of exercise to another
is beneficial, since different efforts
require different sets OF muscles.
hence nerve paths and nerve units
are relieved by the change, but good
rest OF course cannot come by that
method, though the effects Of a dis
tressing incident may be lghtened
by some diverse or pleasurable ex-
element; or a person engrossed in
business cares may find relief in
reading a light book or by indulging
in "A pleasant conversation. Especial
~ before meals, permit as much as
possible relaxation Of the nervous
system. Unfortunately many people
have occupations which do not per-
NIT this relaxation, or the home
may be visited by sickness, and fire.
quently the attendant 10 the sick
room is 50 weakened by the excess
sive vigil that susceptibility TO dis
ease or nervous collapse is the re-
suit. Such conditions can scarcely L.
helped, they can only be deplored
as incidents of our daily lives.
The hours of proper sleep for an
infant are not less than % hours.
a child of three years old requires
10 hours Of sleep, one of IL years
old, II hours; a youth of Il years
old, nine hours, and an adult from
eight to nine hours The fatigue Of
the brain cells in mental occupation
is comparatively greater and needs a
longer period for recuperation than
the fatigue OF the muscle cells which
accompany mechanical employment
stimulation of the nervous system
by means of stimulants should be
condemned by all intelligent peo-
pie. You may whip the nervous sys-
tenn 10 death in your endeavor to
make it work beyond its capacity.
and furthermore any organ of the
body driven to complete exhaustion
can never again reach its maximum
perfection
The blood supply TO the brain OF
man of mental occupation is much
greater than il is TO the brain OF the
artisan.
Painting may be due TO either
congestion of the arterioles of the
brain, or lack of blood supply tc
the brain. Faintness sometimes oc-
ours and is followed later by
throbbing sensation in the head Both
conditions are due to a disorganized
sympathetic nervous system: the
first phase is due TO a construction
of the arterioles or a lack of heart
power, the second phase TO a sudden
relaxation of the arterioles or a re-
viving of the heart beat. Such condi.
tions if of frequent occurrence
should be brought to the attention
OF a medical practitioner. The SYM
pathetic nervous system exists as a
part of the general nervous system
of the body. The brain is the real
center A continuation of the brain
occupies the center of the so-called
back bone. The sympathetic nervous
system is on either side Of this back
bone and consist of modules of
nerve cells, called ganglia. This sys-
tenn sends ramifications of nerves TO
the internal organs Of the body, it's
work is TO relieve the brain of some
OF it's responsibility. II is intimately
related 10 the brain and when OBJ
normal conditions occur the brain
becomes cOgnizant
@ss
As il is true that a good blood
current is necessary for an active
brain. so it is also true that restful
sleep does not come 10 persons ply
sically and mentally exhausted. II is
not a good thing TO give a starving
man a large quantity of food. Meth
er is it good TO try 10 force sleep
upon the nervous system, before a
good relaxation occurs, or in other
words after such exhaustion, recline
awhile in a quiet place until the
nerves become free from the irrita-
ton OF the tired muscles, or until
the thinking activities have again
become normal. Then sleep and the
sleep will be restful. Insomnia or
sleeplessnesS may be caused by the
habitual u . of narcotics or stimu-
lants, by lack of exercise or injudi-
cious exercise. \ lazy man who