130 APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY 



Nervous persons are made uncomfortable by slight 

 noises, or by little pains, or by being denied something 

 that they want. They complain, and go about with sad 

 and troubled faces, like spoiled children. They make 

 more fuss over a slight thing than they would over the 

 loss of a dear friend. They are generally afraid that 

 something is going to happen. 



Nervousness is to a great extent a habit. By an effort 

 of thought any one can overcome nervousness. It is the 

 duty of every one to do this. You should not laugh at a 

 nervous person, but should encourage him in every way to 

 become as brave as yourself. 



251. Fear. An extreme degree of nervousness over 

 any one thing is fear. The great danger in fear is that a 

 person may not think of what he is about. Then instead 

 of escaping from danger he may rush into it. When a 

 crowd is in danger, as in a burning building, all are liable 

 to rush in one direction and to trample upon each other 

 as they try to escape. Then a cool head is needed. Do 

 not follow the crowd, for it is more dangerous than the 

 fire. Remain quietly until you can get out without going 

 in the crowd. You will be safer, and besides you will do 

 a great deal towards making others in the crowd think 

 of what they are doing. 



252. Fire drills in schools. In large school buildings, 

 the children are trained to drop all work at the sound of 

 a bell and to march quickly from the building. The bell 

 is the fire alarm. It is sounded every day or two when 

 the children are not expecting it. They do not know 

 whether it is sounding a real alarm or not. When a fire 

 really occurs, they will march out of the building as 

 orderly as in the drill. The drill is a good training in 

 bravery and self-possession. 



