MENTAL OVER-WORK AMONG PUBLIC MEN. 6 



age at death of all classes of those who live over twenty is about 

 50 years. 



Statistics of this kind, which could be multiplied without limit, 

 are decisive as to the beneficial rather than injurious effects of pure 

 mental labor, conducted upon a proper basis, upon longevity. In 

 our public and professional classes, nevertheless, every physician of 

 experience has seen instances of premature bi-eak-down from causes 

 peculiar to these largely intellectual vocations. Even if the in- 

 stances were few, as claimed by some, their discussion would still 

 be of interest, because any sources of peril to those in the front 

 ranks of society must always demand earnest attention. 



In all I have collected a series of sixty cases in which loss of 

 health or life has been largely attributable to excessive brain work 

 and brain strain incident to the callings of those considered. These 

 cases maybe arranged into two classes: (1,) Men in political and 

 official life, including cabinet officers, senators, representatives, de- 

 partment officials, governors, and candidates for office ; (2,) Pro- 

 fessional men, including physiciaus, lawyers, clergymen, journalists, 

 scientists, and teachers. I have drawn not alone from my own 

 experience, but have obtained the records of cases and corrobora- 

 tive facts from professional friends.^ The inferences and conclusions 

 of this paper are largely based upon a study of these cases, although 

 time will permit details to be given in but a few instances. 



With a subject go wide in scope, limitations must be set, in order 

 to arrive at any practical conclusions in a single lecture. In the 

 first place, then, will be considered some of the causes which lead 

 to mental over-work and break-down in American public and pro- 

 fessional life; and, secondly, the early warnings of such over-work, 

 and the forms of disease most likely to result. 



Men engaged in commerce and speculation have not been in- 

 cluded in the present study, although, by including them, the list 



^ Especial obligations are due to Drs. S. Weir Mitchell, "W. A. Hammond 

 J. M. Toner, A. Y. P. Garnett, D. L. Huntington, J. H. Baxter, H. C. 

 Yarrow, and J. T. Johnson. 



