ALL FATIGUE IS BRAIN FATIGUE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3230, 29 May 1911, Page 2

ALL FATIGUE IS BRAIN FATIGUE.

MENTAL AND MANUAL FATIGUE

In a recent issue of an exchange a correspondent points out that it is impossible to draw a precise line between mental and manual work. In other words, all labor is skilled labor, though in greatly varying degrees. Tne navvy with his pick and shovel has to use skill; so does the docker, loading or unloading barrels, cases, and bales. There are men who are coiisthntly engaged in carrying, out one little process that they do the work instinctively, almost- automatically. The exercise of their, skill requires little exertion of body or mind. Cm the other hand, the watchmaker or the engineer lias to keep his mind continually on his work, and although he must use his hands all the time, his brain is being exerted more than Ins body. Many indoor trades requiring skill need the employment of brains rather than of physical force. But even the horny-handed son of toil, who digs, and delves, and blasts, and the countryman who toils on the land, in these days of machinery must use a good deal of inas well as expend mucin bodily, energy. Indeed, it is obvious that brains and possibly on the whole nearly as much mental power is used by the man who works with his hands as he who mainly uses is brains. The professional man or the business man is generally brought up and educated' to his work, and thus his'brains are trained. Whether it be work of brain or hand, so long as it is not carried to excess, it is healthy. No healthy man lias ever been killed by hard work within reasonable limits of any kind. More have -rusted to death than have been worn out. The work which kills at the present time is the abuse of work, the rush and stram of modern conditions, and, above all, worry, the curse of modern times. The person who works at hard manual labor has several advantages. As a rule, he labors in the open air, and provided he earns sufficient to support himself and) family in comfort he is free from worry, and lie is free from responsibility, which- usually -brings worry in .its train. Nevertheless the brain worker must not lay the flattering unction to ms sonl that he possesses a monopolv of mental exertion. Moreover, in this as in every case, the personal equation must he considered.