328 COORDINATION AND SENSATION 



for this condition to become permanent, effort should be 

 made looking for relief. Increasing the circulation in the 

 lower extremities by hot or cold foot baths, or by much 

 walking, is found to be most beneficial. Special exercises 

 of the muscles of the neck are also recommended as a 

 means of relieving this condition. 1 



Hygienic Value of Work. Within reasonable limits, 

 both mental and physical work are conducive to the vigor 

 of the nervous system. Through work the energies of the 

 body find their natural outlet, and this prevents dissipation 

 and the formation of bad habits. Even hard work does 

 not injure the nervous system, and severe mental exertion 

 may be undergone, provided the proper hygienic conditions 

 *' are observed. The nervous disorders suffered by brain 

 workers are not, as a rule, due to the work which the brain 

 does, but to violation of the laws of health, especially the 

 law of exercise. Such persons should observe the general 

 laws of hygiene and especially should they practice daily 

 those forms of physical exercise that tend to counteract 

 the effects of mental work. 



Physical Exercise properly taken is beneficial to the 

 nervous system through both direct and indirect effects. 

 A large proportion of the nerve cells have for their func- 

 tion the production of motion, and these are called into 

 play only through muscular activity. Then, as already 

 suggested, physical exercise counteracts the unpleasant 

 effects of mental work. Hard study causes an excess of 

 blood to be sent to the brain and a diminished amount 



1 One form of neck exercise recommended for this purpose is easily taken on 

 retiring at night. Lying flat on the back, without a pillow, lift the head slowly from 

 the bed and let it as slowly settle back to the level of the body. Repeat several 

 times, lying on the back, and then again on the face and again on each side. Prac- 

 tice these exercises every night during an interval of a month or until relief is 

 secured. 



