92 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



are the natural factors of healing — air, light, water, quiet, exer- 

 cise, etc. 



The first thing required is, of course, to remove the funda- 

 mental causes of the disease. As much rest as possible should be 

 given from without as well as from within ; a true religious con- 

 dition, which a sure faith gives, is therefore of inestimable value 

 to patients. It is self-evident that they must try to be, as much 

 as possible, in the open air, and mountain air is particularly ad- 

 vantageous to them. 



Extravagant as they may venture to be in the enjoyment of 

 fresh air, they should be more careful against excessive applica- 

 tions of water. They should always remember that man is not a 

 water animal but an air animal. If in anything, a close adapta- 

 tion of the treatment by the physician to the individual is par- 

 ticularly necessary in respect to the treatment of nervous patients 

 with water. By the abuse of water in nervous diseases that most 

 sovereign of all remedies has, after a short period of popularity, 

 come into discredit. It is certain that a too indiscriminate appli- 

 cation of water is a double poison to nervous patients. It is, on 

 the other side, incontestable that water applications in the right 

 measure, and in a manner adapted to the character of the affec- 

 tion, are excellent. Equally advantageous for them are going 

 barefooted when properly prescribed, and the air-bath. In con- 

 nection with the water and air cures certain respiratory and mus- 

 cular exercises are advantages, and may, in certain advanced 

 stages of the disease, be applied passively by massage and similar 

 operations. Among other things, gardening and other occupa- 

 tions in the open air are of great benefit. Unhappily, in the 

 large cities, where the majority of the patients live, there are 

 only a few so fortunately situated as to be able to enjoy such 

 employment to any considerable extent. Those who are able to 

 go clear into the country, and work in the fields and woods in the 

 sweat of their brows, will perhaps, if they are prudent and other 

 conditions are favorable, effect a happy cure of their nervous dis- 

 orders. . 



Those who have no garden to till will have to depend on gym- 

 nastics as a substitute. Among the simplest and most convenient 

 exercises of this class are those with an instrument called the arm 

 and chest strengthened of a German manufacturer. The appara- 

 tus is handy, cheap, durable, and adapted to a variety of exercises. 

 Further, the resistance of the weights can be easily measured and 

 regulated for each patient, while the operation is in other respects 

 the same. With this little apparatus we can safely produce ex- 

 pansion of the chest, regulation of the activity of the heart, and 

 strengthening of the muscles. With it the metabolism and blood 

 formation are materially assisted in a natural way. The little 



