WHEN CHARACTER IS FORMED. 653 



point to be noted here is that some children, from whatever 

 cause, may be in a more or less constant state of fatigue all or 

 most of the time ; and since fatigue produces what is called dull- 

 ness, these unfortunates will be distinguished as dullards and 

 stupids, unless the greatest care be taken in home and school 

 to conserve their nervous energy. If such care is not taken, a 

 chronic condition is established in the nervous system which per- 

 mits the energy to escape in useless ways ; and if this continues 

 long enough, perhaps through the college period, it is doubtful 

 if the individual will ever fully recover, since the nerve cells 

 probably acquire their permanent modes of action by this 

 time. 



Thus far nothing has been said of the effects of fatigue upon 

 emotional states. It is manifestly much more difficult, if at all 

 possible, to obtain data respecting this question by scientific ex- 

 periment ; we must rely rather almost wholly upon observation. 

 Doubtless every one has had sufficient experience to be assured 

 that irritability is in many persons an almost certain consequence 

 of unusually severe mental strain or worry.* It has already 

 been pointed out that in a state of fatigue the nerve cells are un- 

 stable, giving off energy exploding as it were without sufficient 

 cause. A person who when refreshed and vigorous would be 

 able to inhibit impulses to anger, or quick words, or passion of 

 any sort, would probably in a state of fatigue lose this power, at 

 least in a measure. That is, fatigue in most instances lessens the 

 inhibitory action of cerebral cells, and the individual reacts upon 

 every stimulus without, as we say, deliberation or consideration. 

 It is shown, too, by some investigators f that fatigue produces a 

 melancholy, depressed feeling ; causes one to turn his thoughts 

 in upon himself, and to become morbid and gloomy if this self- 

 consciousness is long continued. Further, it is the opinion of 

 those who have had large experience that those qualities of 

 character which are described by the terms vicious or criminal 

 are due to perverted feelings dependent upon impaired physical 

 conditions, J especially of the nervous system. It has become a 

 maxim that a man in a state of hunger is much harder to govern 

 than when he is well nourished. Untruthfulness, which Kant 

 has called the negation of self, is generally a characteristic of an 

 individual who has not vigor enough to face boldly the conse- 

 quences of his acts. It would doubtless be within bounds to say 

 that in general one who is physically weak, who is nervously de- 

 pleted, is usually, although perhaps not always, morally weak. 



* Cf. Warner, op, cit., p. 76. f E. g., Beard, Cowles, Dresslar, op. cit. 



\ See Collin, Papers in Penology, 1891, pp. 27, 28; also Wey, in same, pp. 57-69; 

 Wright, American Journal of Neurology and Psychiatry, vols. ii and iii, pp. 135 et seq. 



