Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-06-27
DR.. HARTM Man,
OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, GIVES A SEASON
ABLE LECTURE ON MEDICINE.
Nervous Prostration-Its Causes, Effects,
Symptoms and Cure-Nervines Nuis-
ance, Bromides a Bane, Sedatiyes q
Slaughter-NaturaI Effective Remedies
That Never Fail.

Nervous prostration (neurasthenia), !,
spinal ansemia, spinal irritation, nervous
debility, nervousness and weak nerves are
different names given to an affection of the
nervous system, which is becoming more
and more common. The habits of the aver
age American is, in almost every particular,
calculated to produce this form of nervous
disorder. Hard work, close. competition,
business uncertainties, little sleep and high
living, the use of narcotics, all tend alike to
1nJure the nervous system. The dress and
customs Of polite society, the ever-increas-
ing pressure of business circles, the reckless
indulgence Of the sporting classes, each fur
nlsh their quota to swell the terrible list of
nervous wrecks that crowd the many hos
pitfalls and sanitariums of our country. Thou
sands remain at their homes desperately
trying to go through the tedious routine of
the duties of household, farm, shop or office,
taking nervine after nervine, vainly striv-
ing to put off the day when they shall break
down altogether. A burden to themselves,
trial to their friends, these unfortunate
people continue to dlag out miserable ex-
istence year after year.
SYMPTOMS.
Probably the most invariable symptom in
the history of nervous prostration is morbid
fear. A foreboding of calamity of some
sort, vague apprehensions, sense that
something awful is about to happen, often
precedes for long time the general debility
which is to follow. The loss of vitality of
the nervous system deranges the functions
more or less of every organ in the body.
The head is one day congested with too
much blood, and perhaps the next day
pallid, because of too little blood. Twitch-
ing OF the eyelids, moving brown specks
before the eyes, and metallic ringing in the
ears, are the result of brain exhaustion.
The appetite and digestion may remain
good. although loss of appetite and nervous
dyspepsia are very often prominent symp
toms in such cases. Sour stomach after
eating, with belching of gas, is very
troublesome-a feeling of great weight in
the stomach after eating fuH meal, pro-
ducing in some cases a terrible depression,
causing the patient indescribab1e suffering,
even when the appetite and digestion re-
main good.
Morbid fear of leaving home, or being
separated from their usual attendants, also
of taking medicine for fear of being poi
soned, fear of great storms, of crowded as
sembfies, all or either and many others are
likely to be present in a decided case of
nervous prostration. A constant desire to
talk of their symptoms is commonly so
great as to make it difficult to keep such
patients long at time talking or thinking
of anything else. Chills and hot flashes of
very irregular duration and recurrence come
and go without seeming cause The hands
and feet are usually cold and clammy, and
the general tendency is to dryness and cool
ness of the skin of the whole body.
Among the symptoms to which this class
of patients are liable, but not always pres
ent, may be mentioned neuralgia headache,
nervous chills, hysteria, sinking or faint
spells, distressing palpitation of the heart,
defective eyesight, total inability to read,
write or do any business; urine abundant,
without color, loss of flesh, sleeplessness
and many others, of which each-case pre-
.sents different array.