348 On Tic Douloureux. 



occasionally exercised beyond their powers, who are subject 

 to reverses of fortune, or sudden changes in the< posture of 

 their affairs, and who are constant objects of public attention, 

 praise, or censure. For a time, the constitution, if a good one, 

 bears up against such wear and tear, but as you advance, one 

 or other symptom of a shattered nervous system appears, 

 and this, more quickly and certainly, where the body has 

 been pampered by too good living, false spirits excited by 

 indulgence in wine, and fatigue relieved by narcotics, instead 

 of sleep. Among the host of disordered affections to which 

 such persons are liable, violent local nervous pains are most 

 common, but they are invariably relieved by such means as 

 contribute to quiet the mind and invigorate the body. Ab- 

 stinence from business, retirement into the country, regular 

 hours, plain food, moderate exercise, and avoiding excitement, 

 are here certain remedies, and indeed the only ones, but they 

 are unfortunately not always easy of attainment, and some- 

 times altogether unattainable. I have, however, mentioned 

 these cases, to enjoin an early attention to the overhanging 

 evil, and to criticise its improper treatment. I would, upon 

 the first point, enjoin early attention to the first symptoms, and 

 when they appear let the individual seriously ask himself 

 whether it be worth while to gain a little more money, glory, 

 or honour, or renown, at the expense of all future comfort, 

 and a painful, wearisome, and probably shortened existence ; 

 or whether such apparent advantages had not better be at 

 once conceded, and the host of evils, which will almost cer- 

 tainly ensue, warded off by a timely retirement ? I could 

 illustrate this subject by reference to many individuals, espe- 

 cially in the legal and medical professions, some of whom are 

 harassing themselves to death by over-exertion, whilst others 

 (I regret to say but few) are preserving a healthy constitution, 

 by sacrificing a certain share of fame and emolument : the 

 exceeding folly, too, of persevering in business, when neither 

 mental nor bodily powers are adequate to the exertion, might 

 here be animadverted on, but 1 must, for the present, waive 

 such topics, and return to the treatment of those nervous pains 

 called Tic Douloureux, which are of such common occurrence 

 in the cases alluded to. These will certainly give way under 



