The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-08-06
GhnQEtelIiaturer:
The Trea,menr OF Nervous Diseases.

satlon with our old time friend, Mr.. T. B.
A. DAVID, formerly Of tho Western Union
Telegraph Office in this city, but now Of
Pittsburgh, upon subject which may In.
terest and benefit some Of our readers. In
1879 Mr.. DAVID became very much
afflicted, the result Of over.work for many
years,and his nervous system seemed to be-
suddenly and completely broken down.
He consulted various prominent physi-
clans and resorted to many expedlents to
regain his health, but oil to no purpose.
At last he wentto see DR.. BRowN.SR.
GUARD, the famous physlcian who treated
SENATOR SUMNER 30 successfully, and
who is noted for his skill in tho treatment
ol nervous disorders. After asking a few
leading questions as to our friends for.
mer lie, he took from his case an instru.
ment having two or three widely separat.
ed and sharp pointed teeth. Closing Mr..
DAvD's eyes and opening first the right
hand and then the left, he requested him
10 tell him how many teeth were pressing
upon the hand. On one hand he could
tell with almost invariable accuracy
whether one or two teeth were pressed
upon the palm, but upon the other he was
almost certain to be wrong in every in
stance. The same discrepancy in sensa.
tion was characteristic Of the two sides Of
his brain, which was ascertained
by pressing the instrument first upon the
one and then upon the other side Of his
head. He could always indicate the SEN
sation correctly upon ono side, while
upon the other he could rarely do 30 DR..
BRowN'SRQUARD convinced himself in
this manner that there was deficient
circulation in the brain; that upon the
one side the brain was cougested, while
upon the other it was shrunken. His et-
forts were directed to restore the proper
and natural equilibrium by local applica-
tions. BE first tried ice very freely, but
finding that his patient did not percepti.
bly, improve he determined 10 resort 10
hot iroCs-the heroic treatment, as it may
be called, OF modern medical science for
certain nervous disorders. Senator Sum.
NER underwent the "moxa operations"
that Is, the application ol FIRE to cotton,
or some similar substance, on his spine
Mr.. DAVID, however, was treated differ.
emily. An iron similar TO timers sol.
dering iron, heated TO white heat, was
applied to his head, and the scalp burned
deeply and severely in q number OIL
places. OF course liberation and
suppuration followed, and, as soon
as cicatriz vtiOn resulted, the irons
were sgain applied. And so the
process was repeated a number OF times
until the clog In the circulation was 80
nearly removed that the patient seemed to
have a new set toI feelings altogether. He
lost the painful sensation of weight and
size that he had carried for so long a time,
and was able once more to apply his mind
logically and continuously to any mental
operation, something he had not been able
to do, except at the.e1pense OF great suf.
ieriug, for many months. The change
produced is wonderful, and to be properly
appreciated must be heard from the lips
of one who has undergone the treatment
and experienced the relief. In letter re.
ceivedtEan Haur old friend yesterday, he
speaks with great regret Of the fact that
DR.. BRowN.SEQUARD has gone to Europe
with the intention, probably, Of pcrma-
nently remaining abroad. The Doctor is
a Frenchman by birth, and Is now about
90 years old. Mr.. DAVID in the course OF
his letter refers as follows to some con-
versstlons that he had from time with
the Doctor. It seems that the latter is in
the habit Of rising as early as two o'clock
in the morning and devoting all his work.
ing hours to study, experiment, and treat.
ment Of patients. Upon one occasion Mr..
DAVID ventured to call his attention 10
the inconsistency between his teachings
and habits, whereupon the Doctor
simply replied that he was thus able to
devote more hours 10 work, and ex-
pre- essed regret that more physicians were
not following in his line OF study. He
said that 1t was not possible for him 10
develope all the valuable results that he
felt sure would be made known by con.
certed action in this direction. Speaking
OF the climate Of America, he said there
was something in the atmosphere that
enabled men TO draw more heavily on
their brain power than in Europe. The
trouble was 1t superlnduced over exer
ton. To the remark that It must be a
source Of great pleasure 10 reap the re-.
ward OF his long devotion to his proies.
sion In the good he could do to so many,
he quickly replied, that It was more than
counterbalanced by the pain he suffered
In sending those away for whom he could
do nothing. A further remark that all
physicians were subject to such trials,
brought the prompt reply: "Some physi-
Clans are able 10 10 throw of the trouble,
am not. was forced from this cause to
give up practice once before, and after
this year shall return 10 Europe and de.
vote the remainder Of my days 10 expert
menling." Doubtless the death Of bIa
vile hastened his departure,
Inc lectures delivered in Boston last
winter were IN The course Of preparation
during my visits TO him, and l was sur
prised afterwards In reading them 10 And
how much had been impaired 10 me in
the course OF conversations. A charm
was thus given TO the subject which few
readers OF the lectures can appreciate.
One fact was made known which | do