The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-01-11
HYpocHoNDRiA.
The Mysterious Element in the Mind
that Arouses Vague Appre-
hensions-What Actu-
ally Causes Ii.

The narrative below by promi-
nent scientist touches a subject of
universal importance. Few people
are free from the distressing evils
which hypochondria brings. They
come at all times and are fed by the
very fame which they themselves
start. They are dread OF coming
arrangement caused by presen. dis
order and bring abour more suicides
than any one thing. Their first APP
proach should be carefully guarded.
Editors Herald:
1t is seldom 1 appear III print and
| should not do so now did / not be-
lieve myself in possession of truths,
the revelation of which will prove
of inestimable valGe to many who
see these lines. Mine has been
trying experience. For many years l
was conscious of a want Of nerve
tone. My mind seemed sluggish
and l felt certain falling off in my
natural condition of intellectual
acuteness, activity and vigor. pre-.
suine this is the same way in which
an innumeraDle number of other PEG.
pie feel, who like myself are physi.
cally below par, but like thousands
of others l paid no attention to these
annoying troubles, attributing them
to overwork, and resorting to glass
of beer or a milk punch, which
would for the time invigorate and re-
lieve my WEAKNESS.
After awhile the stimulants COM
menced to disagree with my stomach,
my WEAKNESS increased, and | was
compelled to resort to other means to
find relief. If physician is suffer-
ering he invariably calls another ply
stefan to prescribe for him, as he can
not see himself as he sees others, so
l called physician and he advised
me to try bottle of hypophosphates.
l took two or three bottles of the
chemical food with no apparent ben
eft. My lassitude and indisposition
seemed to increase, my food dis
tressed me. l suffered from neural
gic pains in different parts of my
body, my muscles became sore, my
bowels were constipated, and my
prospects for recovery were not very
1attering. | stated my case 10 an
other physician and he advised me
to take five to ten drops of Magende's
solution of morphine, two or three
times a day, for the weakness and
distress in my stomach, and blue
pill every other night to relieve the
constipation. The morphine pro-
duced such a deathly nausea that l
could not take it, and the blue pill
failed to relieve my constipation.
In this condition / passed nearly a
year, wholly unfit for business, while
the effort to think was irksome and
painful. NV blood became impov-
erished, and suffered from incapac-
ity with an appalling sense of misery
and general apprehension of coming
evil. / passed sleepless nights and
was troubled with irregular action of
the heart, a constantly feverish con-
ditiop and the most excruciating tor
lures in my stomach, .living for days
on rice water and Cruel, and, indeed,
the digestive functions seemed to be
entirely destroyed.
1t was natural that while in this
condition l should become hypo-
chondrical and fearful suggestions of
self-destruction occasionally present
ed themselves. I experienced an
Unsuitable desire for sleep, but on re-
firing would lie awake for long
time tormented with troubled rehec-
tons, and when at last l did fall into
an uneasy slumber of short duration,
it was disturbed by horrid dreams.
In this condition | determined TO
take trip to Europe, but in spite of
all the attentions of physicians and
change of scene and climate, l did
not improve and SO returned home
with no earthly hope of ever again
being able to leave the house.
Among the numerous friends that
called on me was one who had been
afflicted somewhat similarly 10 myself,
but who had been restored to perfect
health. Upon his earnest recommen-
dation l began the same treatment
he had employed but with little hope
of being benefited. At first l ex-
perienced little, if any relief, except
that it did not distress my stomach
as other remedies had done. l con.
tinued its use, however, and after the
third bottle could see a marked
change for the better, and now after
the fifteenth bottle l am happy to
state that I am again able to attend
to my professionally duties. l sleep
well, nothing distresses me that l eat,
I go from day to day without feel.
| in1 nf ruaovinaac Main ;oIaal Il