Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1872-07-13
Nervous women.


The little demon for which ner-
vousness stands is among the worst
enemies tbet afilict women. It is in
tangible, mysterious, not to be de-
scribed or understood by any but
the poor victim herself, and imper-
fectly BY her. It has as many hues
Is the chameleon, as many forms as
Proteus, and without local habita-
ton it is still an eVer-present misery.
Nervousness is q thing nobody
pities, because pity IS vulgar; and
asks for pallor of cOuntenance and
weakness of frame before 1t shows
itself. Nervous women are the
least understood and cOmmiserated
Of all classes of inValids; and yet,
where there is one woman ailing
from any other cause, there are
twenty ailing from nervousness. a
thing so complex must necessarily
have a complex origin.
IL comes from too much work and
too little work; from too much brain
stimulus and from too little brain
stimulus; from a lonely life with
cravings of the soul that are never
answered; from an excess of dissi-
patton and unhealthy habits, both
mental and physical.
Undoubtedly the person who
could find panacea for this modern
misery Of which, in old times, even
the name was unknown, would be
the greatest possible benefacioF of
his kind. Il would require a subtle
insight into the complex relations of
body and soul, Of which no physi-
ciaH has yet given evidence; and,
perhaps, we must look in vain for a
true doctor, or a true remedy for
diseased nerves. which arc the spirit
telegraph lines extending al over
the BODY ont of repair, until We
know better how 10 live move and
have our outward, as well as our
mental being, more in accordance
With natures laws.
Nervousness is one of the terrible
punishments wreaked upon the sins
of our civilization. 1t is deteriora-
ton 80 fine. 50 searching, that no
microscope can follow its trail; no
added powers which science gives
to the visual organs can discover its
abiding place. Women suffer more
from these nameless pangs and hor-
rOrs than men, because of finer or
IS easier 20 UntYist a tangle of rope
than q tangle of silk thread. Ia
healthy minds among women come
ofteu-Jimcs, not because life Is too
full, but lis because IL is not full
enough. Household drudges and
mothers, worn down with the con-
slant wearing care of children, are
nervous because the chords of life
are fretted thin in one place. Those
women need contact with the fresh
and invigorating influences of ma
ture; contact with people, amuse-
meuts. diversion, change, which
they never get until they break
down
Modern women in education are
immensely ahead of their grand
mothers, but the grandmother had
sound nerves, and so the balance Is
made even. No tongue can tell, or
pen portray, the anguish many wo-
men endure who have their mental
powers developed, and then tHd
nothing in life upon which TO use
them. When the emp.oyments Of
women are more complex, varied
and social than they NOW are, ner-
youSnesS Will lose some OF its most
repulsive features. When the prln-
cipIe Of selection l. introduced into
wOman's work, the gnawing, IN
rest. discomfort VII. be quieted.-
When the bodies Of women are
strengthened by free Out-of-dOor
life, more br8cing, active exercise,
the nerves Of women will grow Wig
Urou= in tone and action.
When tie interests Of women CN-
paud TO take IN more of this broad,
lv-ri'yWiHE universe than tEe scutl-
WcuJ uT love, which Is now Immense
- ovgrgrowl, il viii cease 70 harm,
ANA vii become womau.S crown Of
beauty instead of play ing strains
-ilug.cd out Of tune ami harsh,
upou a morbid and diseased nervous
~.lW.-IaC Rer0iHti08-