Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1901-07-10

nerve are common; the reason Is
weakened; sometimes the mind be-
comes permanently unbalanced or the
dreaded locomotor ataxia sets in.
Nervous prostration has no set rule
of approach. It takes its victims in
various ways often by complete ply
sical collapse as in the case of actors
who faint on the stage during per-
formance. Suicide is often the sud-
den Elimination.
"I..-, dangers of the disease" said
a pnysician, "lie in the fact that peo-
pie go on disregarding the warnings
which they have flashed to them from
the tired-out nervous system. These
warnings are excessive nervousness
and irritability, these being the first
symptoms and often continuing for
years before any breakdown occurs.
Then there is a general condition of
illness, loss of appetite and insomnia,
depression, tendency to worry over
trifes and to these, more serious
symptoms add themselves as the dis
ease progresses.
"The heart frequently is affected,
the head is heavy, hot and aching,
then the speech becomes jerky, con-
fused and uncertain and the move
nents of the body are spasmodic and
not controlled by the brain. Eccen-
tricity of speech and action Is noted
and violence is the next stage Of the
conf laint. Then the patient who has
resisted all the appeals Of his physi-
clan to rest from his work is con-
demned to a sanitarium where en-
forced idleness Is necessary for weeks
and sometimes for months.
open air exercise Is a great pre-,
ventive Of nervous sickness. Cold
batns, the plunge and shower and
needle spray should be the accompani,
ments Of the morning abolition OF
those disposed to nervousness even
slightly. 1t is never wise to adopt
harsh or sudden methods in this cold
water treatment. If one is accustomed
to warm baths the temperature of the
water should be changed gradually
An excellent plan is to fill a large
sponge with cold water and holding
It at the back of the neck, squeeze
1T so that the water trickles down the
spine, repeat this several times and
the subsequent shock Of cold water
on the rest of the body Is slight
Brisk friction with a coarse towel fol
lows.
"Above all exercise-not with bells
ior pulleys, but in the open air, with
deep breathing and plenty of walking
and running, if possible. Well venti
lated bedrooms are necessity. Busi'
mess men complain that they have nc
leisure for exercise in the open air
.but l now have a number of patients
who walk to and from their Offices
leach day from uptown homes.
"Cold showers are of the utmost
beneft in nerve trouble, correcting the
conditions in all slight attacks very
readily. In severe cases patients must
give up reading and writing or ever
3listening to music. Study Is forbidden
ato STUDENTS who develop nerve dis
haSe, But in these advanced cases Il
Better for the sufferer to leave the
city, and sea voyage is a splendid
tonic for the nerves. Living in cite:
surrounded by the awful street noises
the clang of firebells and those of am
'bulances and cable cars and the buzz
ling of automobiles the only wonder !:
that the disease is not scourge.
"The greatest danger of nervou!
prostration is that so many sufferer:
anxious to avoid giving up their va
Nous pursuits resort to remedies tina