Overwork and Fatigue.

Otago Witness, Issue 2677, 5 July 1905, Page 68

Overwork and Fatigue.

Dr Cater discusses m Ohambers'& Journal the question whether it is excess of work or merely a faulty method that is really to bkine for a person's physical or mental collapse. He asserts that consciousness of fatigue by no means implies that our stock of energy is played' ooutt t or that our powers of endurance have been und-ulj

taxed. Such is seldom, if ever, the case; and to encourage such a thought means simply a more acute state of depression. The fact is that, despite the sense of fatigue,- we still have considerable reserve force left, and it is against drawing unnecessarily upon that reserve force that Nature gives timely warning. It is only , when we have exhausted our natural energy ' and begin to draw unnaturally upon our j force in reserve that serious devitalisation ' ensues. Suppose we ignore the feeling of weariness or fatigue, and — thus disregarding tl-o warning of Nature— proceed with our work by sheer effort of will. We then enter upon a different physical condition, because under such circumstances a demand is made upon our reserve force, and matters scon reach a very serious st'ite. Once our reserve force is brought into action, a peculiar debilitating effect is felt; and if the new source of energy is drawn upon to tho limit, the time quickly arrives when our total strength really is used up. And here comes the point to be emphasised Assuming that we have completely exhausted our energy — the reserve as well as the natural — we are then confronted by genuine physical disaster, and it is too late even to talk of taking a rest. Nature's powers of leouperation would in such a case have become so weakened that the work of repair cannot be accomplished The wearied worker, Dr Cater points out, should endeavour to ascertain to what, extent his tired feeling is- real. For if the feeling is that of momentary lassitude, or even mere laziness, no warning of need for rest has been given. A practical method of determining the measure of fatigue is to trace tho tired feeling to its source — that is, discover whether it is situated in that part of the systeni which has recently been "exerted. Thus, if the work has been done with the bra : .n and the tired feeling comes in the -legs, which have been resting, it cannot be regarded as indicating any approach to overwork. Thus it may be learned that what is called over-work is nothing more or less than worry or boredom, the condition requiring, therefore, change of scene and occupation rather than absolute rest; and for most normal individuals change is rest.