Fatigue. By A. Mosso. (Swan Sonnenschein and Co. 4s. 6d.)
—Professor Mosso treats the study of fatigue in a popular manner, insomuch that the opening chapters seem somewhat loose and rambling in character; but those on "Fatigue Products," "Intellectual Fatigue," and " Attention " will be found not only most suggestive, but explanatory of phenomena familiar to all of us. The ingenious " ergograph " records on smoked paper the response of the middle finger to the will-power or electric stimulus. Thus from one small muscle we learn how muscles tire; and we also learn that muscular as well as mental energy is dependent on the brain. The strongest and youngest man when mentally exhausted finds it a great effort to attempt physical labour. The same applies to overworked children ; they cannot play when their brains have been over-excited. Professor Mosso's experiments on colleagues point to the nervousness of the Southerners in a most marked manner• They have this disadvantage : that owing to a greater nervous- ness and quickness of response, they impose severer strains on already tired muscles. The skill of the Italians with the foil is an instance of the greater speed of motor nerves. The whole question of fatigue is extremely complicated, and Professor Mosso admits that this little book is only tentative. Personal idiosyncrasy is an unknown quantity, and narcotics and stimu- lants add yet other varying factors. Both are dangerous aids to the high-strung worker, disguising fatigue. We should like to hear what the great Italian physiologist has to say about their action. One thing seems certain, that while we have prolonged
developments of civilisation. • SCIENTIFIC EDUCATION.
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