Fear of Lightning Storms

1900

Nervous Persons Often Victims of Needless Suffering

The keen suffering which some undergo just in advance of or during a thunderstorm is of a dual nature. The sense of impending danger alarms and terrifies, but there is also a depression of spirits which is physical and real brought about by some as yet unknown relation between the nervous system and conditions of air pressure, humidity and purity. The suffering due to depression and partial exhaustion requires from those who are strong sympathy rather than ridicule.

The suffering due to alarm and fright, however, is unnecessary. It is largely the work of the imagination. To a nervous nature there is something appalling in the wicked, spiteful gleam of the lightning and the crash and tumult of thunder. But such a one should remember that the flash is almost always far distant and that thunder can do no more damage than the low notes of a church organ.

The question is often asked, "Do trees protect?" The answer is that the degrees of protection will vary with the character of the tree and its distance from a water course. An oak is more liable to lightning stroke than a beech. The character of the wood, the area of leafage, the extent and depth of root, will determine the liability to stroke.

Another question which is often asked is whether there is danger aboard a large steamship during a thunderstorm. On the contrary, there are few safer places. Sufficient metal with proper superficial area is interposed in the path of the lightning and its electrical energy converted into harmless heat and rapidly dissipated.

Accidents occur chiefly because the victims generally place themselves in the line of greatest strain and thus form part of the path of discharge. for this reason it is not wise to stand under trees, near flagpoles or masts, in doorways, on porches, close to fireplaces or near barns. Those who are not exposed in any of these ways may feel reasonably safe. It should be remembered in the event of accident that lightning does not always kill, but more often results in suspended animation than in somatic death. Therefore, in case of accident, try to restore animation, keep the body warm and send for a physician without delay. — Century.

Daily Exercise

1905

Clerks, bookkeepers and thousands of other indoor workers suffer from the lack of pure air and muscular exercise. If an attempt is made to begin systematic exercise, or an hour or so is spent in digging or chopping wood, undue soreness and fatigue are produced. This disagreeable result often stops the experiment. Instead of discouraging the trial, the very soreness should point out the great need of the body.

If the work were persisted in and gradually increased the stiffness would soon disappear, and leave in its place a general feeling of increased vigor. The nerves are strengthened and the bodily activities quickened. The effect is not alone on the muscles used, but upon each organ. The blood is purified and the digestion strengthened.

The effects of a prolonged sedentary life are overcome only by working off the accumulated poisons and creating an appetite for new pure food. This is built up in the body, and thus the whole man is renewed.

Exercise must be carefully increased and adapted to the individual muscular strength. The weakest muscles must be brought up to the standard of the others.

For feeble persons who are not able to do the desired work, massage, Swedish movements and mechanical exercises should be employed. For more robust persons, walking, horseback riding, rowing, bicycle riding and especially swimming are to be recommended.

Physician Declares Colors Have Influence on Nerves

1920

A New York physician who gives more credit to nature than he takes for himself in the cures he has wrought is a great believer in the effect of colors on the human race. Nature is the best teacher in these things, he says. You will find in your surroundings in the country no black and very little red. Blue and yellow are combined in the restful, reviving green. There is no doubt, the doctor contends, that the wearing of black has an evil effect on both health and spirits. It is the color of Saturn, the planet of gloom, misfortune, fatality and other evil things. If one wishes to be happy and brilliant, blue is the color to wear. The doctor says that the spirit of evil hates blue intensely and flies at the sight of it. Blue also calms the nerves and therefore it is a good color for room decorations.


Great Musicians of India Care Not for Worldly Things

To the Hindu, music, like sculpture and painting, is a sacred art. Music originated from Siva, one of the Hindu Trinity, and Saraswati is the goddess of music and of learning in general. As people look upon music as something sacred, so it has become a highly specialized art. Amateur musicians are not much encouraged. The public seem to say, "Do it well or don't do it at all; don't play false with music; it is too sacred for light treatment." The great musicians of India are generally ascetics. They care not for name, fame, or wealth. They live a life of comparative poverty. The Hindu is of the opinion that a voluptuous or a luxury loving person cannot be a great musician.