270 0)1 Chronic Debility 



out the co-operation of other causes, nothing more is usu- 

 ally requisite, except some immediate attention to the 

 most troublesome symptoms, than a change to an active, 

 healthy employment, provided early efforts are made of 

 this nature. 



Where it has been induced by severe study, if the pa- 

 tient is possessed of a constitution originally vigorous, 

 and the study is for a time omitted, the cure is usually 

 not very difficult. But the misfortune is, in this countr}'^ 

 at least, that of the young men originally destined to re- 

 ceive a liberal education, no small proportion are consti- 

 tutionally feeble, and this is the Mtry reason why they 

 become students. It appears to be an opinion, preva- 

 lent to a great extent, among parents, that their feeble 

 sons, if nothing else can be made of them, may be con- 

 verted into scholars, and thus fitted to enter into one of 

 the learned professions. No idea can be more erroneous. 

 It requires far more strength of body to study effectually 

 and thoroughly, than to labour on a farm, and not a small 

 number of these very students, after dragging out seve- 

 ral years of pain, disease, and discouragement, are com- 

 pelled to enter upon some very different and more active 

 business. 



With respect to the length of time which has elapsed 

 since the commencement of the disease, it can be hardly 

 necessary to observe, that the longer it continues, the 

 prospect of a cure usually becomes less. 



With respect to the severity of the symptoms, it may 

 be observed, that if the acidity and wind in the stomach 

 are habitually severe, the prospest of a radical cure will 

 be diminished, in some measure, in proportion. If the 

 mind is greatly affected, and despondency, irresolution, 

 and discouragement have taken possession of it, the pros- 

 pect of recovery v/ill be smaller, than with those persons, 

 who are usually cheerful, and possessed of more mental 

 energy. 



In attempting a cure, we must, keeping the things 

 which have been mentioned constantly in view, 



1st. Avoid all the exciting causes. 



It must be evident to every one, that so long as these 

 causes continue to operate, the disease will continue to 



