382 BIOLOGICAL PHYSICS 



receive, store, and distribute, its own specific nerve energy, 

 there cannot be the slightest doubt, as daily, physiological, 

 and clinical, experience, and observation, abundantly prove ; 

 and that there is a balanced reciprocity in all the daily, and 

 hourly working, of the two systems, there is, equally, 

 not the slightest doubt ; it is, therefore, essential, at all 

 times, to bear this in mind, and to be prepared to recog- 

 nise its existence, and act in accordance with, its require- 

 ments, whenever called upon as, we may be every day, 

 in such ailments as, the now fashionable one, of 

 neurasthenia. 



In this disease, if we are really entitled to call it a 

 disease, the exhaustion of nerve energy may be dual, 

 that is, it may involve the generating powers of both 

 systems, in which case appeals must be made to both, 

 and the requisite restorative means applied to each, or 

 both ; in a word, the proper nutrition of both systems 

 must be arrived at, the dormant powers of their associated 

 musculatures roused, and their mobile abilities renewed, 

 all which, bespeaks the adoption of physiologically indi- 

 cated means, as the rational, and scientific, way, to clear 

 up the situation ; proper food, successful digestion, free 

 circulation, and exact assimilation, must be supplied, and 

 sought after, by consulting the sympathetic nervous 

 system ; while freedom from care and worry, judicious 

 exercise of both musculatures, fresh air, and all hygienic 

 adjuncts, must be supplied, to meet the wants of the 

 systemic nervature and musculature ; and the continuance, 

 and regulation, of these, according to the necessities of 

 the individual case, must be persevered in, in order to 

 the maintenance of health when re-established; all which, 

 looks most simple, while, at the same time, it requires the 

 use of the highest powers of discrimination and tact on 

 the part of the physician. Neurasthenia, being essentially 

 a condition of health resulting from modern forms of 

 civilisation, and requiring for its treatment the prescrip- 

 tion, more especially, of rational preventive measures, 

 with the adoption of the above-mentioned curative 

 agencies, and manner of life, so soon as it can be said 

 to have begun, it behoves the observant physician, as 

 well as the relatives of its subject, to be on the watch, 



