The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-03-22
NEURhS tn ENlA.

When an unfortunate woman In foreign
land comes down with what che decides is
nervous prostraton the physician she calls
In will likely regard her with good deal Of
amused contempt. He Is apt as not to call
1t a plain case OF the american disease
and go about It's treatment awkwardy
enough, Plainly he does not believe
IN nervous prostrat0n, while his Amer
lean fellow professional gives 6 1t the
name of neurasthenia, defines 1t as nerve
exhaustion and admits it is peculiar to the
natives of Our States
"Neurasthen!a." said well-known nerve
specialist. is hardly distinct disease; doc
tors are Inclined to regard It as a condition
of the body that comes about gradually
and is caused mainly by the cruel eXig
encies of our American civilization. We are
even coming to believe 1t an hereditary
weakness, and women are particularly prone
to It's influences through their more delicate
nervous organizations, their rather uncoa-
trolled imaginations.
The New England and Mlddis States
he continued. SHOW a preponderancc q
cases. 1t has also been found that Amer
can women between the ages of is and 90
and between 40 and 80, are neurasthenla's
most willing subjects. Before is and after
90 one rarely finds n genuine example OF
what the foreign man Of medicine is apt 10
think a mere American yagary."
The workings IN case Of nervous pros
tration are many What are they2 Wei
In what We call neurasthenia. where hypo
ohondria plays no part. the fnt noiceabi
6ymptom seems always TO be graiua
decrease OF general yigor. followed by o.
unpleasant moody languor. with an iuclin
alton to excessive anxiety and fretfu
worry over even the minutest tribes
Where the mental depression is markea
and stupid morbid fears trouble the brain
L fha VIC, ! Al
sipato her melancholy by increasing her
diverGlons. The not oyer-strong. highly
strung society girl merely yedouhles her
fashionable duties TO get rid Of her blues
and the brain WORKER finds her quickest re.
| lief in redoubled eXertons over her duties
At first the added cxerton has a mos,
stimulating effect, but this is merely burn
Ing the candle in three places instead Of
two, and presently the spirits alternate be
| tween most delightful periods OF exhilara-
| tion and painful shocks Of hysierlcol tears
There are lenEthoning attacks OF sulty
( gloom, when ones faults are magniied int
crimes and the temper grows imperous
and sensitive.
These trying phases arc In the beginning
attributed to the ingram perversity OF he
feminine nature. An overtaxei housekeeper
scarcely stope to consider little loss in
appetite and flesh. troublesome attacks o.,
neuralgia headache and n desire. when no
special demands are made on her time. To
cit yaWnng over the fire. warming her cold
hands and feet Added to these Indications
| insomnia follows with foarfully bad dreams
/ disturbing the BRIEF snatches Of sleep.
| 1t is not, however, until a sharn attack
/ OF vertigo or A shocking sort OF mental in
competence alarms the patient tina, the
/ physician is consulted and the collapse
comes
y y
Where it Is possible the cure In ean,.
tarnm Is advocated. tor there Is a genuine
case of neurasthenla where 1t will reoulre
a month or six weeks to soothe and partially
restore the distracted and depleted neryc
| force. In such cases the rest cure acts
/ IKE magic, the patient ia treated as thouph
she were recovering from an acute and ex.
hausting oilment, But the sanltarium is
costly luxury, and where the nervous die
order he's not arrived at a crisis tho roe,
cure at home can be used with great beneft
There room should be given the pet,snt
which she has never occupied before ono
that Is sunny and quiet, ana where she ,nav
be put comfortably to bed. The attenda,,,
should be trained nurse, who understand