A Vain Delusion by Editor

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · May 2, 1878

A Vain Delusion.

By Editor

A FAVORITE theme with the editors of so-called health journals and household medical guides is that of “overwork,” and so much has been written on this subject and of such a nature, that, were we to believe and act upon this advice thus given, the world would become almost a hive of drones. We confidently believe that so far as honest brain work goes, the more we do of it the better, and if, owing to a reckless disregard of recognized hygienic and sanitary laws, an occasional “student” finds an early grave, let the blame be put where it belongs, and not credited to the worthy zeal that some call “overwork.” Having long held to this opinion, and believing that facts would sustain us, we are gratified to find that an eminent English physician has given expression to a like view, and, coming as it does from one high in authority, we trust it will receive the attention from both students and drones that it deserves.

We condense from Dr. Wilk’s communication as it appears in the Lancet, as follows: After answering the simple question, “Are people suffering from overwork?” with a decided “No!” the writer says: “Medically speaking, I see half a dozen persons suffering from want of occupation to one who is crippled by his labors. Very often when a business man complains of being overdone, it may be found that his meals are irregular and hurried, that he takes no exercise, is rather partial to brandy-and-soda, and thinks it is not improper to poison himself with nicotine every night and morning.”

Passing from man to woman, the case is made to appear even more severe. It is not overwork, therefore, that is to be deprecated, provided the work is legitimate, and such as to claim a normal exercise of the functions. The brain is an engine of many horse power; its energy must be accounted for in some way; if not used for good purposes it will be for bad, and “mischief will be found for idle hands to do.” So work is actually a safeguard. The human body is made for work, and just as the muscles are better prepared for work by previous training, so the nervous system, whether it be the brain or spinal column, becomes more energized by use. It is only during sleep that the brain is actually inactive, and hence, if we will not give it work to do, it will find that to engage its energy, even though in the end the labor be profitless.

After referring in a plain, though hardly gentle manner to the men and women whom the frivolities of life “sadly busy,” the writer contrasts them with those whose minds are never at rest and yet who live to a good old age. As the closing passages are not only truthful as to facts, but of value by the suggestions they contain, we are prompted to quote them at length—and should there be among our readers some of these overworked brain-workers, they will find in these words sage counsel and encouragement. The writer refers to the honest, cheerful, but constant, workers as follows:—

“Practically they have no rest, for, when one object of study is complete, they commence to another. It is by the happy faculty of diverting the powers into different channels that this is accomplished. Instances might easily be quoted of statesmen, judges, and members of our profession, who know no absolute rest, and who would smile at the suspicion of hard work injuring any man. I make it a custom to ask young men what their second occupation is—what pursuit have they beside their bread earning employment. Those are happiest who possess some object of interest, but I am sorry to say there are few who find delight in any branch of science.

The purely scientific man finds his best recreation in literature or art, but even in intellectual work so many different faculties are employed that a pleasant diversion is found in simply changing the kinds of labor. For example, a judge after sitting all day, and giving his closest attention to the details of the cases before him, may yet find relief in his evenings by solving problems in mathematics. The subject of overwork, then, is one of the greatest importance to study, and has to be discussed daily by all of us. My own opinion has already been expressed, that the evils attending it on the community at large are vastly overestimated; and, judging from my own experience, the persons with unstrung nerves who apply to the doctor are not the prime minister, the bishop, judges, and hard-working professional men, but merchants and stockbrokers retired from business, government clerks who work from ten to four; women whose domestic duties and bad servants are driving them to the grave, young ladies whose visits to the village school or Sunday performance on the organ are undermining their health, and so on.

“In short, and this is the object of the remarks with which I have troubled your readers, in my experience I see more ailments arise for want of occupation than from overwork, and, taking the various kinds of nervous dyspeptic ailments which we are constantly treating, I find at least six due to idleness to one from overwork.”—Appleton’s Journal.