MODERN NERVOUSNESS AND ITS CURE. 91 



Our general social conditions, in which the ease that once pre- 

 vailed is approaching nearer and nearer to extinction, undoubtedly 

 have a great deal to do with the preponderance of nervous dis- 

 eases. 



On the other hand, it can not be too impressively insisted upon 

 that the individual has the means to a certain degree in his own 

 hands of alleviating by a rational mode of life the general harm 

 to which modern man is exposed. But it has to be remarked that 

 the greater number of us, in spite of all the instruction we get, 

 remain in incredibly dense ignorance of matters of personal hy- 

 giene. It thus occurs that many allow themselves to be guilty 

 of sins against their own personality by which the health of their 

 nerves is broken to the very marrow. Besides overwork on the 

 one side, there are certain special indulgences, abuse of spirits and 

 other stimulants, too early and excessive tobacco-smoking, and in 

 the majority of cases all together, by which the nervous system is 

 at last disordered and severely injured in its vigor. I was told by 

 an officer that he began to smoke in his twelfth year, and when 

 he marched to France as an ensign he now and then smoked 

 ground coffee when he had no tobacco. It is not to be wondered 

 at that this officer became insane a few weeks after his marriage, 

 and had to be put in an asylum. In other cases there are more 

 or less self -accused disillusions, cares, sorrows, and similar mental 

 conditions, through which the nervous system is weakened and 

 thrown off the track. 



Through all these processes waste products are formed in the 

 body, which, acting as self-poisons, cause more or less disturbance 

 in the nervous system. In consequence of the storing up of these 

 self -poisons, patients complain of sleeplessness, nervous pains ap- 

 pearing here and there in diversified alternations, and of being 

 easily fatigued after brief mental or bodily efforts. They are 

 often cross, overcome by trifles, and very frequently complain of 

 nervous disturbances. Nervous dyspepsia is therefore in many 

 cases associated with neurasthenia. 



Sadly numerous as such cases of neurasthenia appear at this 

 time, our knowledge has advanced so far that we can, with good 

 heart, give promise of comfort and courage to nervously afflicted 

 persons. For, even in apparently critical cases, a surprisingly 

 favorable result may be reached by the exercise of a little patience 

 combined with a proper and intelligently directed general hygiene. 

 I sincerely advise nervous patients to avoid, as much as possible, 

 all drug remedies. Especially would I warn them against habitual 

 use of benumbing narcotics, however seductively they may operate 

 at first. In my opinion, all these means ultimately do more harm 

 than good. 



Of immensely greater value than drugs to nervous patients 



