118 TRANSACTIONS OF THE [mAR. 14, 



althougli they are called involuntary mnscles. They are the 

 ready and obedient servants who need no prompting from the 

 will, but who, sleeping and waking, guard and sustain animal 

 life. But the laws of fatigue and refreshment for these muscles 

 are the same as for others. Long-continued excessive violent 

 action must impair their efficiency. 



It is hardly to be expected that any boat crew will initiate a 

 movement to reduce the length of course from four miles to 

 three; to use an appropriate expression, they " would die first." 

 Such a movement might be looked upon as a confession of weak- 

 ness. But when the suggestion comes from an outsider, it is 

 made to all alike, and may at least be discussed with possible 

 profit. 



Refreshment of Muscles. 



An interesting inquiry connected with this subject is, at what 

 rate refreshment of muscular action takes place. From experi- 

 ments made by Dr. Haughton, of Trinity College, Dublin, to 

 whose investigations in animal mechanics we are indebted for the 

 law of fatigue, it seems probable that the actual time required 

 for complete refreshment is many times greater than the time 

 necessary for complete exhaustion. The slight intervals of rest 

 during periods of ordinary exertion are not^ therefore, in them- 

 selves sufficient, and prolonged repose during some period of 

 each day becomes necessary. 



The above laws of fatigue and refreshment refer especially to 

 muscular action, and include both the voluntary and involuntary 

 muscles of the animal system. 



If we may by analogy or inference assume that corresponding 

 laws govern the action of the nerves and brain in man, the con- 

 clusions arrived at in regard to over-exertion in the boat-race 

 have much wider and more comprehensive bearings when applied 

 to the daily labors of the great multitude of men and women, 

 where the fatigue and exhaustion incident to their struggles for 

 the support of themselves and their families are those of the 

 brain and nerves, not of the muscles. 



Assuming that the total exhaustion of a given amount of nerve 

 and brain energy is inversely proportional to the square or the cube 



