THE NERVOUS SYSTEM. 105 



" 5. Severe mental application is especially deleterious to nervous 

 invalids. Their disorder consists mainly in predominant cerebral 

 and nervous action ; and their cure, in restoring the requisite balance 

 by reducing it. Those, then, whose occupation requires much 

 mental application, must give up their business or their happiness, 

 if not lives. The former may be like plucking a right eye, but the 

 latter is worse. Why prosecute business at the sacrifice of life 7 

 Do you not pursue your avocation simply as a means of enjoy- 

 ment 1 Then why not give it up when it conflicts with this only 

 end of life ? Besides, by suspending it till restored, how much 

 more you will be enabled to do in the long run. So that, merely 

 for the sake of accomplishing the very business you would do, 

 postpone it temporarily. 



" What folly to sacrifice a lifetime of business to a few months, 

 or even years ! Why kill the goose that lays the golden egg 7 

 Cure your nerves first, and do your business afterwards. 



" A light, simple diet is quite as indispensable to the nervous as 

 dyspeptic. Few things oppress the nervous more than over- eating, 

 or relieve them more than abstemiousness. 



" 6. But a cooling diet is even more important. All condiments, 

 all stimulants, act mainly upon the nerves, and re-excite, and still 

 farther disease them. Hence all alcoholic drinks, wines, beers, 

 cider, ale, all kinds of fermented liquors are fire to them, and should 

 be wholly avoided. Tobacco is another powerful irritant is fatal 

 to nervous quiet. In common with opium, it exhilarates tempora- 

 rily only ultimately to fever and disorder. No higher proof of this 

 is required than the feelings consequent on its abstinence. And 

 the more wretched you feel when deprived of yoi^Jupe, quid, or 

 segar, the more it has already impaired your ner^pind will in- 

 crease its ravages. 



" 7. Tea and coffee have a similar effect. The stronger teas are 

 rank poison to the nerves, and black teas are poisonous, though less 

 so. Coffee is still worse. Its strong narcotic properties powerfully 

 enhance nervous irritability, and will create, much more aggravate 

 nervous disorder. Susceptible as my nerves are, nothing would 

 tempt me to fever them by tea, coffee, tobacco, or alcohol, and all 

 who do are consummately foolish, and even wicked, and sinning 

 against their own peace." 



