Health and Temperance

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Nov 11, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 43.

Health and Temperance.

BRAIN WORKERS.

THE most intense and fatiguing of toils is pursued almost uninterruptedly; food is neglected, and the claims of exercise and sleep are imperfectly admitted. Two hours' exercise in the open air, daily, is probably a minimum, and might prudently be exceeded. The brain worker must live sparingly, rather than luxuriantly; he must prefer the lighter classes of food to the heavier, and he must be very prudent in the use of alcohol. Tobacco and tea are apt to be favorites with him, and their immoderate use may require to be guarded against. It is a nice question whether he needs more or less sleep than other men. Many men of genius are light sleepers, probably in some cases a misfortune, but there seems some ground for the notion that more than a moderate indulgence in sleep is unfavorable to successful mental effort. The Cincinnati Medical News, commenting upon the above, says mental effort causes waste of tissue elements quite as much as bodily exertion, and this demands a full supply of food. What with dyspepsia and absence of appetite, the results of deficient exercise, and the influence of preconceived ideas as to the use or disuse of special articles of food, the brain worker is very apt to receive too little nutriment to make up for the waste. Especially is this the case when he, unconsciously, perhaps, replaces food by the use of tobacco, tea, alcohol, or opium. Some advise to go supperless to bed. This most medical authorities of the day think is a wrong notion. It is a fruitful source of insomnia and neurasthenia. The brain becomes exhausted by its evening work, and demands rest and refreshment of its wasted tissues, not by indigestible salads and "fried abominations," but by some nutritious, easily digested and assimilated articles. A bowl of stale bread and milk, of rice, or some other farinaceous food, with milk or hot soup, would be more to the purpose. Any of these would insure a sound night's sleep, from which the man would awaken refreshed.—Selected.