438 THE TREATMENT OF DISEASES. 



with some rich patient, or he may be able to exchange the worries and anxieties of 

 practice for literary work. Rest does not so much mean absolute idleness as change 

 of occupation. As adjuncts, bromide of potassium (Pr. 31) or phosphorus (Pr. 53 or 54) 

 may prove useful, but the real and only true treatment is rest. If you are pulled 

 down from any cause there is nothing like taking a holiday, and there is no surer 

 means of warding off that complaint of which we are all so much afraid " old age." 

 It must be understood that it is not work that we condemn, but over- work. We 

 should be the last to underrate the importance of real honest work. In fact, a cer- 

 tain amount of work is necessary for the maintenance of health. The enervating 

 effects of inactivity upon the physical structure and energies of mankind few can 

 have failed to observe. Rust is more fatal to metal than wear. A thorough-bred 

 racer, if confined in stable or paddock, or a boxer, born of the finest muscular make, 

 if permanently incarcerated in gaol, will, after a few years, become quite unable to 

 compete with those vastly their inferiors in natural endowments and capabilities. 

 This is equally applicable to the temper and intellect of man, which, secluded from 

 the scenes of appropriate stimulus and exercise, become relaxed and weakened. 

 What would have become of the glorious spirit and powers of Achilles if his days 

 had all melted away in the tender, delicate, emasculating inactivity and indulgence 

 of the Court of Lycomedes 1 ? Work, then, but work in moderation, and work 

 judiciously. 



PAIN IN THE MUSCLES, OR MYALGIA. 



This is an affection with which we are all more or less familiar. We commonly 

 speak of it as "cramp," "stiffness," "soreness," or "aching." It is the almost 

 constant result of any unusual or unusually prolonged muscular exertion. Every 

 schoolboy remembers his first ride, and every athlete his first day's training. The 

 traveller remembers how stiff and weary he feels after a long day's journey in a 

 jolting carriage, and the mountain-climber knows how sore he is after ascending any 

 considerable eminence for the first time in the season. It is from pain in the 

 muscles that the seaman is suffering when he complains of how his eyes " burn " 

 after many an hour's weary look-out for land, especially when the duty has to be 

 performed at night. 



It might be thought that this affection must of necessity be confined to men, or 

 at all events to them and to those of the fairer sex whose habits and pursuits are 

 more or less Amazonian in their character. Such, however, is by no means the case, 

 and we do not wonder at it, for the fact is that few people have any idea of the 

 amazing amount of work which women of the middle and poorer classes of life have 

 often to get through in the course of the day. From the first thing in the morning 

 to the last thing at night they are always on their legs, washing, dressing, scouring, 

 making the beds, shaking the carpets, sweeping, ironing, sewing, darning, clearing 

 up, dusting, looking after babies, &c. &c. All these acts require muscular exertion, 

 and this is sometimes excessive in degree, yet from their very insignificance, and their 

 daily occurrence, they are too often completely ignored. It is common enough to 

 hear a man say that " the missis is a rare good un, she's always at it," but he would, 

 in all probability be considerably surprised to hear that she, in her quiet way, does 



