The Washington times., 1919-10-19
How to Cure NERVOUS
PrOstratiOn"

Beutic Measures u NERVOUS lLl4
Mental Diseasss," PubIishtd b
P. Blakistons Sens & &c.
TN the demands thai modsEu eiviliaa-
- ton makes upon TIE individual"
= writes Dr.. Bsfcum. ''the unduo e.
penditure Of energy that results 81 ever
fatigue is freQusht occurrences. Asa fs.
suit, q condition d established ID which
neither physioloeio rest nor food suffice
any longer q rest the organism end che
equilibrium observed q health. Gradually
q WsU-dehaed nsufosis lHsrv6a1 diseased
becomes established. and this e widely
known among tne iaitY 81 nervous pfostfa.
ton and amshs phydisians aa nsufas
thenia."
Dr. BefCum thsn proceeds 70 discuss ihe
symptoms Of nefv6as bToaEdoNl. many 6f
which have been annoanosd b paIi 81
President wlisohb trouble tho mtonss
headaches, pains b TIE eyes disturbed
vision, baokache. pains b TIE les enc
arms cough, tender 6eo,s Gi6as ths spine,
the feeling ol 6umbness ia the its5. ssnsl
tivensss Of tie scalp ahd q ether times
ssnsiHVeness Of ne fsos. tie tssth tie
gums and other organs
Dr. Dercum als5 mentions 0ihsf l-s5afb.
anees Of the nerves aIl over tie tatg,
which be describes IS aprieallns. creeping
or vslvsty sensatoas" and dittaEblhee 81
the special senses ol sight. hearing. TASTE.
smell. Frequently the patient e. not abie
10 read for more than feW minutes at q
time, because Of TIE bluffing of the letters
and because oi ths headashe thai O. pro.
duces. Thafe q olten intense annoyance
from the ordinary iishi that comes in
throash che window. Be- that TIE patient
must rf8ls6t his syes win smoked 1ia1ses.
and &c e6mplaint that everything appears
misty of AZ th6ash seen through 8 ven
Patients frequently Compla Df Der
cum sEbiaihs. lhN iheg eahhsi bear pro-
srly 81 unaefstand Ulat ls said d lhem.
ana yet at ths same time they ale e.
tremsiy sensitive 60 noises Whish. although
insignificant disturB them aettslH
This d accompanied by ringing d TIE
ears. end disorders Of smell and q taets
are 6ftea present. the patient complaiAins
Of aahofine smells aad peculiar tastes
which % not exist
fsfg grave series oi symptoms aiso
are connected win tie brain. ne general
nervees exhaustion f51thes into the skun
ana ths patients mind becomes Affected
Aside from hfs general ifritabiiity and im.
patience hs is incapable 5f long continued
mental eaoft he is unable 70 hE his at
tenti6h upon & subject, end q be ehdeavofs
% ds 50 vague aad confused Impressions
and ideas folloW instead 5f clear mental
activity. At tie same tine painful sensa-
tons arise with headaeAs end siadihsss,
With loss Of memory, tntI1 it is not uheoas
mon for the batisht 70 declare that be e
AIosihg his mind"
Along with this goes q lessshihg ih the
strength Of win and associated with thi5
there Is also q lack Of decision and the
pstient becomes vaeiiiating and undecided
and & even incapable Of coming to q De.
cision regarding even trivial matters.
Another distressing feature Of heuras,
thenia is pointed cut by Dr.. DefCum.
The patient ls unusually sensitive and often
feels hurt BY fancied neglect or oversight
on the part Of friends or relatives. His
emotions ere readily excited. Totally In
adequate causes may provoke marked de-
preston and at other times boisterots
laashtef A play at q theatre or a news.
papsf article may provoke him to tears
and he may Be pursued BY unreasoning
fears.
The symptoms Of fear are quite remark.
able. The patient may have an attack Of
fear while he b alone and becomes NOR
Bidly afraid Of being left alone. There are
also many special forms Of fear 10 which
the medical profession have given special
names. "Thus some neurasthenics are at
tscked BY fear" Dr. Dereum writes,
when they hnd themselves in open places
.-agoraphobia: in others, the fear comes
On when they find themselves In narrow
or close plsces-claustrophobia; the fear
Of being alone Is called monophobia; the
fear Of crowds-anthrophobia and so on"
Furthermore, the night holds terrors for
the patient ae Is likely TO be troubled
with insomnia and lie awake FOR long hours
pursued by fears and worries and pains.
And Il he falls asleep he is frequently dis
turbed by distressing dreams.
"The patient dreams Of murders, or ter
rfble accidents, Of being pursued BY great
danger. and, not infrequently aWakens sud
denly IN q paroxysm Of fright. Startling