The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-02-20
NERVOUSNESS.
The Causes which Tend to Produce the
Malady.

can WOiIeu are Iuduy ahS
Doubtless the maladv is in many cases
the result of overwork on the part OF /
parents before the children are born.
We know enough to be tender toward
our domestic animals when they are
producing offspring. but we have not |
yet practically learned that human be-
ings respond as inevitably toproper and
to improper treatment as do COWS and
horses. 1.-The fathers (and mothers)
have eaten sour grapes and the chill
dren's teeth are set on edge" Ii we
do wish the teeth of the next genera
ton set on edge, we must not eat sour
grapes.
Another cause of nervousness Is our
climate. We have all climates in one.
The soft south winds blow and we are
Tapped in tropic luxury; the weather
vane points to the east, and cold rains
chill our vitals. It points to the north
and frost benumbs us; it veers 10 the
northwest and the winds from those
vas. forest and snow-covered regions
blow and blow and bow till we are
tired out with facing them aad even
listening TO them; and between times,
when the skies are uncertain Whist hue
they will take, and the positive and
negative electrical conditions Of the air
and the earih are at war with each 9TH
er, we hold ourselves in suspense with
neryeless power till one or the other
gets the ascendency. There are days
when we can not work enough, so slim
ulating is the. atmosphere: there are
other DAYS when to wor' at all we mrlst
cudgel ourselves continually. Of course
this ceaseless battle with the climais
must wear upon the nerves. But Sc
do not think it is nearly so much to
blame for the nervousness of American
women as some other things we can
mention.
And foremost among these we must
place unhygienic and wicked methods
of dress. For forty years, perhaps
more, intelligent physicians have been
inveighing, and to a great extent IN
vain, against the style OF dress Worn by
American women Forty years ago it
was the fashion to lace the waist very
tightly and then hang around the hips
about ten or twelve pounds weight IN
| skirts. Thick-soled shoes were I'M
known among ladies' for either summer
or winter wear. and, fortunately high
heels were unknown at that time also.
Of course this mode Of dress produced
| its natural results, which any one famll-
lar with the position. and physiology OF
the internal organs does not need 10
have pointed out How was it possible
for women thus dressed to give birth to
strong, healthy, robust children?
| Fortunately, Oops came in fashion and
the wciaht of the skirts diminished, but
tight-lacing has never gone out OF
fashion save for a short time after the
battle of Sedan, when German ideas
prevailed above Partisan, and during
that brief period it was possible FOR even
a well-dressed lady to take u long breath
comfortably. High heels and corsets
and a weight OF skirts hanging from
ones hips ought to make any woman
nervous. These instruments OF torture
may by habit become necessary 10 q
woman's comfort, as do opium and to-
bacco and alcohol to the comfort OF the
drunkard. Physicians say that four
fifths of American women suffer from
diseases peculiar to their sex, and their
diseased condition is in great measure
the direct result OF violation of hygienic
laws as to dress. How can bitter
fountain send forth sweet waters? How
can an evil tree bear good fruit? how
can a diseased mother produce healthy
offspring?
Another cause of nervousness is eN-
cessive use of food (?) that stimulate
but do not nourish, as coffee, tea,
spices, condiments and malt and DIS
titled liquors. A great many women
depend on their morning cup OF coffee
for strength to do their morning WORK
far more than they depend on the food
they take with their coffee, and if their
energies lag. they spur them up with
more coffee or with tea. Coffee and tea
do not make nerve tissue or muscular
tissue. They help use it up rapidly. but
they don't make it.. Muscular and
nervous force:is built up by plain, nu,
tr.tious food so,prcpa;e as t. be read
ily assimilated. When every woman
knows how to cater wisely to the nor
NAL demands OF her'own body, and II
she does not: with her own hands pre-
pare her food, can intclligently direct
how it shall he prepared, we shall heal
less about nervousness.
Another prolific cause of nervousness
is the effort to- live in a. certain style
and up to a certain fashionable stand
ard. We must wear deliberately made
dresses and have plenty OF them. They
mast be fashioned in the latest sty'e
TOO, and if we can't buy new, the oil:
must be made over. and # We can
hire it done, We must do it ourselves
We must have our houses furnished a
least as we'll as:our neighbors, better
we can, and in this idle conio-t HOY
much vital force, how much prcciou
time is consumed, and for what com
mensurate result?
When the death of the. heir to tn
+ throne of France was announced to tn
j royal incumbent, etiquette forbade 81.
external sign ofEemotlon, a?d etiquett
had its way, but the monarch fell sense
less at the feet OF the physician VII
made the announcement. DiYinc erae
can can do great deal TO eEab.e us I
: regulate and rcpress oar emotions. bu
!, we have no right to break laws and tie
! trust that somehow we may escape tn
l penalty. l. is, trIc that Divine 2rac
; will enable usto bear with uncompia!r
/, inc patience, and fortitude. tie pcnalt
1 of rtansgre. s;nr hygicnic and other ID
vine laws. but il has IFS limitations
The penitent murderer haQgs for hi
. crime: the repentant thief serves OF
:. his term OF IMPRISONMENT, and their "
!. nocent cAldrcn NTst suffer for ID
: offences Of the parents.
ANGER. malice, envy, unGharlt&Dlt