ANTIDOTE FOR TIREDNESS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9092, 23 November 1907, Page 4

ANTIDOTE FOR TIREDNESS.

WORK AND REST.

In a paper by Professor Burnham, read by Dr Gulick, of New York, to the International Congress on "School Hygiene," the professor said that within certain limits the ability to resist fatigue can be increased. It was apparently proved that toxic products resulting from the functional activity of the muscles are the chief cause of fatigue. " Thus, when the blood of a tired dog was injected into the veins of a normal one," ~says the professor, " the latter showed symptoms of fatigue." Nor is this all. There are certain things, the professor stated, that act as an antidote to fatigue, and Weichardt claims to have isolated the fatigue- toxin, and to havo produced an anti-toxin in the usual manner. The anti-toxin may not only be produced artificially, but is produced during normal functional activity. When moderate quantities of the products of fatigue are produced in a healthy organism there is an increased formation of tho specific anti-toxin; that is to say, there is always a tendency to develop immunity to fatigue. Experiments with mice have proved this. AV'Jule a mouse that is given a largo doso of the toxin shows decreased ability to work, and soon dies, mice which beforehand have been rendered immune by treatment with the antitoxin of fatigue may be given a large dose of the) toxin, and yet continue to work with unabated efficiency. It is much the same with men and women, the professor stated. Small doses of anti-fatiguo toxin have stimulated them to work, and rendered them temporarily fatigue-proof. Large doses, however, decrease the ability to work, and may do permanent injury. ■' ' The way to develop power to resist fatigue in children," says the professor, " is by short periods of intense work, followed by periods of rest. Prolonged periods ot work should be looked upon with grnvo suspicion, as likely to injur© permanently tho ao.-ity to work." Professor Burnham quoted authorities to show that physical energy is at a low ebb in March and April. "Hygiene justifies the long vacation in tho summer and a abort vacation in the spring," Protessor Buvnliam's paper concluded, "and regard shou4d.be had to seasonal variation- of energy in determining the periods «__ studj* and recesses."