STRAIN OF BUSINESS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXII, Issue 12525, 10 April 1935, Page 2

STRAIN OF BUSINESS

NERVOUS BREAKDOWNS FAIRLY FREQUENT.

COMMENT BY DOCTORS

CHRISTCHURCH, April 7

The unusually large number oi Christchurch business men who in recent (weeks have suffered nervous breakdowns, frequently without any physical complications, has attracted comment from doctors in the city. Those who discussed the question remarked' that illnesses of tin's type were not nearly so common among manual workers, but had' a definite connection with the life of those engaged in business and similar occupations.

One interesting suggestion made was that during the depression some men, faced with the imperative necessity of keeping going in difficult time's, ihavc! d)ri.yen dhom'selveK through the exertion of will power beyond the normal or natural limit for exhaustion, and refusing to accept definite evidence of fatigue, have flogged an exhausted system. The lightening of this tension, through tbo return in some measure of bettor conditions, lias, ip was suggested, been followed by relaxation, and the accumulated strain has 'shown itself in the form of a collapse. “It is generally accepted,” said one doctor, outlining the general nature and cause of the trouble, ‘that everything a man does is the result of a reflex- action. An impulse moves to the brain through one of the special senses, particularly those of sight, and hearing. Ther 0 the impulse is rationalised into consciousness and 1 tlio natural! result is that a (further impulse travels out by means of the spinal cord and nerves to the muscles of the body, which thereby contract and effect mechanical movement. This movement has n definite relationship to the original impulse received. This translation of nerve sensations into muscular action is known as the reflex arc, and is the fundamental principle explaining any action of any human being. ‘lt; ;is obvious,” Jim continued, “that if a person’s environment is iViich that a vastly greater number of impulses are received into the .brain than can find their outlet in physical action, a state of mental and nervous exhaustion ■is easily engendered. Such conditions undoubtedly operate in the lives of many business men, where, fin conjunction with a minimum of muscular movement is a . maximum of nerve impulses passing to the brain. There are the noises of motor cars, telephones, bells, tramcars, and a hundred other things, the eye strain of reading and writing, the nervous strain of making important decisions interviep.% keeping appointments—all this 1 perhaps while the person is physically inactive!, but mentally overworked. ‘Recognition -of these facts,” ho added, “is seen in the action which iis. being taken in other countries as for exam pi a the anti-noise campaign in London. Afore stress, too., is being laid °n the importance of holidays.” In America, it was stated. those engaged in business in a large way frequently, spent a fortnight in ' bed perhaps every three months. This was regarded as a fixed’ routine. No telephone w T as allowed in the room, the financial page of the newspaper was not allowed to them, and every thing was done to make the time on© of complete rest. The recuperative period had been found most effective ijn safeguarding the health of these men.