Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1891-09-12
NERVOUS PEOPLE.
VARIOUS vAeAales WHICH ACCOM-
PANY An AMERICAN DISEASE.


PANY An AMERICAN DISEASE.
The Man whe Clear. uis Threst--PaiiIng
at the Ma~tache--L 81 Stages 81 Ner-
xeas Amtetion--Trick OF a vIetim Of
Insomnia
"what do you think Of nervous tricks and
habits, doctnrr asked a reporter Of Dr.
Charles II. Hughes, at the physicians office
Their serious consideration would I'LL
your paper he answered but OF what
may tast he characterized as tricks and petty
mannerisins Possessed by 80 many people, 1
would say that they are only too often the
precursors Of a graver nervous condition;
the initial warnings OF nature, as IL were, Of
the dicction la which the system il tending.
I Often, TO be sure, these habits never become
worse, the condition OF the nervous system
giving rise to them recovering through some
Z fortuitous circumstance There are sudden
/ starts, the patient is easily frightened, dis
I turbing the motor area Of the brain and Civ
/ ing rise TO semi-spasmodic actions. What
physicians call the inhibitory power Of the
E brain to arrest morbid influences becomes
! impaired SO that what the mind would usu-
ally restrain passes into action. The mind
I has tine ability to enforce such restraint, but
action affords so much relief that the suf-
ferer aequiesces, and nervous habits, newly
4 acquired, are the result.
Eve have all seen the practices into which
nervous people fall. There is the man who
/ clears his throat or coughs, when he has mover
/ tho sign OF cold, or who yawns when he has
no reason whatever TO feel bored. Others
/ will twitch their beard or mnstache, pull ut
their clothing or buttons, pick and bite at
their finger nails until the blood runs Then
there are other such familiar evidences OF
embarrassment MS the continual shifting of
the position when in company, and this, to-
4 gether with tendency to automatic and alb
sent minded actions when not dependent on
profound mental preoccupancy, may DO
often taken as indicating the approach OF
nervous prostration When one gets very
nervous, marked habits OF irritation appear;
familiar and naturally agreeable sounds
/, such as the prattle Of children-become an
noyiue Insomnia viii SGT in, the repair Of
the system becomes unequal 10 the daily de-
, mand, and the result is seen in irregularities
, of regulated movements. Some people will
! jerk and twitch their bodies when they fall
; asleep from an irregular explosion Of motor
a nerve force, the energy of spinal cell becom
ing suddenly liberated. This same condition
OF things higher up in the brain gives rise te
J ing and comfortless dreams, when the natura
/ capacity OF the brain to secure its own timely
! repose is impaired
! "In still graver states OF nervous troubles
may be observed morbid fears, some of then
most peculiar There are people afflicted
with monophobia, or the fear Of being alone
which is a most peculiar condition OF thu
mind. knew a lawyer who would nevel
dare TO appear in court for the purpose d
pleading case when unaccompanied by hi
wife or some other member of the family
: When so supported he would argue well ana
: at length, but otherwise an indetinable terro
OF something that might happen-he knew
not what-would seize him aud render hin
powerless. Then there are victims of claus
trophobia, or the fear Of going through mar
row places, and have known people 10 b
! In mortal terror when proceeding along an
! but the broadest thoroughfares, lest the house
d should close in ON them and crush them. Al
n throphobia and gyuephobia the one the fea
|. OF crowds and OF men, and the other the fea,
: of women, are not uncommon. These an
similar troubles, ass ciated with morbi
: sounds in the ears, are symptoms Of what ha
y Oeen termed American nervousness, or mel
u rasthenia, it being first discovered by Anne
u ican physicians. Again. we have peryeTsc
Z of smell and taste, all local causes bein
Df absent; cases OF people who smell smoke whe
" there is none mt hand and the prediction
n school girls for chalk and ground slate pencil
. The liking for alcohol is often a matter
:, the nerves and even acquired tastes (,
y various articles of food and drink may
= traced TO the same cause.
20 zone OF the saddeSt symptoms OF nervou
2 ness, and one which in many instances mari
= the last stages of the affection, Is the indeci
H.. ~ ,,,..,
and the rapidity with which they grasps
conclusions and acted ON their conviction
But perhaps the most characteristic of
nervous troubles Is the fear of personal co
y tamination, which appears to have develop
go more since the advancement Of the hstsci
50 theory, and which 80 affects some pcrsn
Is, that they will not shake hands or otnerw
nd come into actual contact with their ncis
borsn
nj In connection with this last a certain e
4, tlemnn well known in ~, Louis, but II,
dead, may be recalled by many IN whom v
" developed in remarkable degree this II
M OF contamination lie wore gloves, and /
he ONLY would not shake hands, but had
ed greatest aversion 10 touching any one sitti
on next him in a street ear. Many people tn
Id are who have some one nervous affection Il
10 never develops into anything worse, d
II which is merely a source Of annoyance to
-, afflicted. One gentleman found 1t impossi
'is' 20 sleep at times, and after chasing imagine
WI sheep over imaginary fences without av
rth bethought himself of tracing the figure
mt, OH the ball OF his thumb with the foretin
tial OF tho same hand This intricate process
md tanned the desired end but unfortunately
Inv came such matter Of habit that 1t was c
- tinued in waking hours, and when iast he
-, from tho victim was unconsciously labor
50" 10 lull himself asleep in the day time
These are but few Of the many TYPES
nervous men that every one encount
That they could be redupieated by the 81
lew goes without saying, but lest the reader
hat added to the long list of unfortunates, it 4
hey be Just as well 10 let the medical books
~, the rest-SG Louis Republican.
Very Satisfactory.
Mr. Levi employs two clerks In his n
so' grocery. One is young man Of the $
any race as his employer; this other - a II