MUSCULAR EXERCISE OF LITERARY MEN. 237 



Causes of these failures. With respect to the causes 

 of these calamities, for such they certainly are, both 

 \vith respect to individuals, and the nation, there can be 

 only one opinion. They are brought on by too much men- 

 tal and too little muscular labor. Thus the balance of 

 the system, which as we have seen, requires a due 

 proportion between the exercise of the nervous, and 

 muscular powers, is lost, the equilibrium of health is 

 destroyed in consequence of the predominance of the 

 sentient, over the muscular principle. 



Obvious effects of too much mental labor. In such 

 subjects, it will be found that after a while, the flesh be- 

 comes soft and flabby, while the muscles can only be made 

 to perform their ordinary functions with difficulty, all 

 continued, or violent exercise is instinctively avoided and 

 even a walk of a mile or two, at the urgent request of a 

 friend, and which once gave so much pleasure, is now 

 undertaken with reluctance. Fatigue, even after walk- 

 ing but a few hundred yards becomes the prominent 

 feeling, and the man often returns home, after a short 

 trial, for fear that he shall not be able to do so, if he 

 continues his walk. Having returned, perhaps out of 

 breath, he seats himself and concludes, that exercise, 

 since it brings on fatigue, is not only useless, but hurtful 

 to him ; and thus if he cannot be made to change this 

 opinion, consigns himself to the nearly hopeless condi- 

 tion of a confirmed " literary dyspeptic." 



Meantime the nervous system increases in suscepti- 

 bility in proportion as the muscles lose their contractile 

 powers, and fall into a state of weakness. The subject 

 becomes exceedingly sensitive to nervous impressions. 

 Occurrences of little consequence, and which in his for- 

 mer condition would have produced no sensation, now 

 affect him very unpleasantly. He becomes irritated 

 and vexed at every little mishap in the affairs of life. 

 His friends, he begins to imagine do not behave towards 

 him as formerly ; they have deserted him in his afflic- 

 tion ; and his own family are wanting in that kindness, 

 which was formerly shown him, and which his present 

 weak condition now particularly demands. At the 



