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who do not. In a general way I can divide my cases (whether active 
minded or not) into four groups according to their ill health. 
(a) Catarrh Victims, especially those subject to common colds and 
sore throat accompanied by disturbance in temperature, febrile condition, 
with more or less “fever fantasy,” when all sorts of thoughts rush through 
the mind. If the individual is a writer and not too ill he may jot down 
some of these thoughts and utilize them. In some a recumbent position 
is an additional stimulating factor, and, indeed, people in health can 
often think best when reclining. One of my friends explained it by saying: 
“The pressure is equalized when lying down, there is less blood in the 
feet and more in the brain.” 
Catarrh victims may or may not be cheerfully excited—those in- 
fected with tuberculosis may be very cheerful and hopeful, the opposite 
of the next. 
(b) Dyspeptics as we all know are usually pessimistic. One of my 
friends has said: “Beware of the literary critic who has dyspepsia or 
an acute dyspeptic attack, for he will see nothing to praise in your work 
or effort; all is gloom to him and mankind is going to the bow-wows.” 
The depressed mental state may not last long in an acute attack, just as in 
the case of the boy who has colic from eating green apples, who thinks 
he is going to die, although he will be as well as usual the next day. 
(c) So-called neurasthenics, known also as neurotics, and “the nery- 
ous.” As a rule this class reacts acutely to environmental influences, and 
at night there may be insomnia with the mind actively at work. As to 
actual work, individuals vary greatly. Many have large thoughts but 
produce little; some are simply regarded as dreamers. What is com- 
monly regarded as brain tire may really be motor tire; the brain is 
active enough, but there is no desire or little inclination for physical ex- 
ertion necessary to write out the thoughts—a mental overstimulation with 
a motor paralysis, so to speak. 
I have notes on one case, a man who would ordinarily be regarded as 
a neurasthenic, who dreams much and gets new ideas in his dreams, jot- 
ting them down in the dark at night, in bed. But frequently he finds in 
the morning that he has no notes, for, after a dream that he wants to 
record, he dreams further that he is recording it or has made an entry 
on his scratch tablet, and then sleeps on; all has been a dream. Sometimes 
on awakening he retains an indistinct idea of the dream which he wanted 
to record. 
