Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-25
.|FOR NERVOUS WOMEN
SIMPLE AND SENSIBLE THINGS THAT
WILL HELP THE CURE.
Symptoms of q Probable Breakdown
Are Easily Seen-A Daily
Regimen.
Written for The Evening Star.


condition common. In Europe its occur
ence is rather infrequent, even among the
highly sensitive members Of the Latin
races, ouch as the French and Italians.
A physician Of wide experience in the
treatment of nervous diseases has the fol-
lowing to- say about the premonitory symp-
toms of neurasthena, knowledge of which
would save many a high-strung woman a
long siege of incapacity and more or less
acute suffering.
1.-The symptoms" he says, "of an APP
preaching breakdown are physical and
mental. Among the earliest of natures
bodily warnings to make itself manifest
is tenderness of the head and scalp, which
is often 50 excessive that brushing the hair
causes intense pain. There are certain spots
which are especially sensitive, one of them
being just over the eyebrow and another in
the left temple. There is dryness of the
skin and scalp, and there is sometimes ten
derness at the tip of the spine. The pupils
of the eyes are generally dilated, and dark
spots seem to float between one and the
light. Sometimes a veil will apparently
descend over one eye, leaving spot of
clear sight at the bottom, or apparently rise
from the lower eyelid, shutting off the
vision from below. There are ringing in the
ears and frequent attacks of dizziness. The
neurasthenic voice is very characteristic
symptom; it is soft, faint and lacking in
timber and clearness. The hands perspire
excessively, there is frequent twitching of
the eyelids, and one finds oneself Flushing
furiously from no apparent cause
Some Other Symptoms.
while the victim of neurasthenia is ap-
parently extremely sensitive to pain, in
reality she is not SO. This is a very pecu-
liar phenomenon, and dentists say that
person suffering from this disease will bear
without finching certain operations in the
mouth which the same person in a normal
N ~
other peculiar symptom of neuraSthenia is
the rapid decay and loosening of the teeth.
THE susceptibility to StimulantS and mar
cCticS is variable
Another physical symptom is the So
called irritable heart which gives rise
to tremulous, intermittent pulse, palpita-
ton and dizziness, and often causes people
TO think themselves the victims of organic
heart disease.
One of the first mental signs that the
nerves are giving way is the inability to
remember names, dates, figures and Incl
dents of daily life There is also the ina
bility to concentrate the mind anything.
such as reading, writing thinking.
Insomnia is another unfailing symptom
of nervous breakdown. 1t is often, how
ever, a mere restless habit of the BRAIN
which be checked by proper treatment
Sometimes a person will go to sleep imme-
diately on retiring, but wake in an hour
and lie tossing the rest of the night. Others
are bile to sleep at all till nearly morn
ing, but can then rest peacefully.
Fear, in fact, is the cause of untold
suffering to the victim of neurast henia
whose lot is at best hard one and is
often rendered douby so by relatives and
friends who are inclined to scott at his
fears and despair and to regard these symp-
toms of illness as mere Pigments of the
imagination. A certain amount of nervous
strength is necessary to supply the courage
requisite for the simplest eXertions and
patient of this class will often walk up and
down before physicians office, unable to
summon up the courage to enter, dreading
all the time some vague, horrible name
less thing which seems to be waiting on the
other side of the door. Such trfiing acts
as the paying of bill. the dsmssing of
servant and the buying of yard of cloth
are invested in the mind of the neuras-
thenic with untold terrors.
Complete Rest is Useful.
ANY woman who discovers all or sew
eral of these symptoms in herself would be
wise to pause in her social family or bust
ness duties and take things easily till she
RECEIVERS herself, which she can do by fol-
lowing a few simple but very necessary
rules. The complete rest cure is not gener-
ally necessary, even for women, while men,
unless they are practically bedridden, find
1t intolerable There is a great difference
in patients, however. Some require to be
put to bed, while others require a degree
of physical and mental activity. Intellec-
tual pursuits of the higher sort undoubted-
ly take ones mind from personal emotions
of the lower sort.
AS to medicine, very little is required.
The best results are obtained by varying
the treatment from week to week taking
sedative one week. tonic the next and
nothing at all the third. Any responsible
physician can suggest proper medicines,
but in most cases there is nothing better
than bromide a soda tive and combina-
ton of iron and strychnine.
NO scheme of treatment Is complete
which ignores the mental side of the dis
order One should write 'cheerfulness' on
ones doorpost and laugh little every day.
At first one may not feel like 1t, but things
will gradually take a roster hue The
morbid fears of the victim of neura sthenfa
cannot be laughed to scorn by relatives and
friends, but one can himself reason them
away, or, better still. ignore them. A cheer
full companion is of inestimable value If
the society of such a person can be secured
the battle is half won.
'Neurasthenics should begin their self
treatment by spending twelve or fourteen
hours out of the twenty-four in bed as the
keynote Of the whole scheme is rest, partial
Or complete. They should retire shortly
after the evening meal and not rise till s
or clock the next morning.
Best to Leave Home.
The isolation from friends and relatives
insis ted upon by eminent nervous special
lists is only necessary in extreme cases,
which do not come within the province of
Sef-treatment. Though II ones relatives
excite annoy one constantly by idle
tax and contention it is better to get away
from them for a while and be with quiet,
congenial people
The following regimen, which is recon-
mended by a specialist of wide experience
and reputation, be easily pursued by
any one with leisure and little persistence,
and will work wonders in the course of a
few weeks: Rise at 3 or 8 o'clock, take a
bath in tepid water, dress quickly, and eat
breakfast, consisting of fish, chop or beef
steak, dry toast and one cup of tea or cof-
fee. No pancakes or other indigestible
compound should be taken, and the food
should be well masticated before being
swallowed
AT II o'clock take a glass of dry sherry
and biscuit, or raw egg and a glass of
port and after this if the weather per-
mits, sit or stroll in the open air until
lunch time.
For this meal take raw oysters or clans
three four times a week. and on alter
nate days a bowl of good soup. Then eat
a cut of roast beef mutton. glass of
sherry taken at lunch may be of benefit
After lunch lie down for an hour or So
At o'clock take a cup of tea and a bis
cult. The little sweet cakes often seen
on tea tables are not wholesome. After
this go for walk a drive, returning in
time to take warm sponge bath before
dinner. A Turkish bath in the afternoon
once a week will be found beneficial.