The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-07-13
SO YOU'RE JUST WORKING ON YOUR
NERVE, Ell?

Shakespeare came nearer to the truth about
neurasthenia than DR. Beard himself or Freud
science makes towards of us ALL So you are
nervous, are you? WE'LL what are you afraid
Of?
1t is a common expression to say that per-
son has just been working on his nerve. or
keeping up on his nerve, and consequently his
collapse or complete breakdown is natural.
But that doesn't mean thing actually. A
person can no more work on his nerve or keep
up on his nerve than he can do so on his bone
or his muscle or his lung. If he happens to at
tempt any feat Of endurance his nerve Is sub
jected to no more strain than Is his heart or
his liver. He is no more to be admired ex-
cused for working on his nerve than he Is for
working on his muscle.
Remember. please, that I am speaking in
scientific terms and not in street parlance.
Recently. prominent banker under indict-
ment fed from hospital or sanitarium where
he was confined, and attempted suicide. As
cording to newspaper report, one of the
physicians who had attended the man an
nounced that the patient had been seriously III
for several years with kidney lesion and dis
ease Of the blood vessels. The blood vessel
disease had involved the brain structure and
brought about impairment OF memory, judy
ment and ability to transact business. The ar
teriosclerosis later developed severe coronary
thrombosis-these medical terms need not de-
tain us-everybody knows arteriosclerosis
means hardening of the arteries, and a few Of
the older boys know that coronary thrombosis
terieS that carry blood to the heart muscle
itself-which had eliminated In an attack of
angina pectOriS q few months before the bank.
er's Indictment.
All'that is straight and aboveboard. But the
doctor who issued the statement to the press
managed to inject bit of characteristic ho-
KUN into 1t, for what purpose we may conjec-
ture. Where he explained that the arterioscler-
osis had involved the brain structure and
judgment. the doctor interjccted his trick
phrase, to wit. coupled with his great bust
ness anxiety" lie might as we'll have said 20.
jury, please let us down easy"
I kroW nothing the caac Ofhcr than tho
news told. Fro mthis viewpoint 1t seems that
the humorous phrases injected by the doctor
~ an effort 70 gnin the sympathy of the neur-
otto world
: 1t is quite characteristic Of general arterio-
scleroSis that, as the patients memory and
judgment become impaired, his obstnacy and
his refusal to defer to the better judgment or
advice of physician or other person. Unfortun-
ately there Is no test which will determine
definitely when these brain functions are suff-
GENTLY impaired to make the incom-
petent to handle his own or anothers business
! or estate. The law prefers to wait until he has
committed some serious breach.
Here Is a. typical instance OF progressive Or
ganic disease (arterioscerosis) producing eff
fects which the public and too often the physi-
clan, would ascribe 20 nervous strain"
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Modern Surgery
Feel would not be doing my duty II 1 did
| not tell you of the highly satisfactory result
| from removal Of hcmOrrhOids by the Injection
| method which you recommended. Not only
hemOrrhOids but other associated disturbances
l
ont one bit OF Inconvenience to me. Mrs G. X.
CD.
| Answer--Thank you The injection treat
ment which does not incapacitate the patient
| from ordinary occupation, Is proving uniformly
successful but we regular doctors are nothing
| II not backward about having truck with these
| newfangled methods. and 1t will be a long
/ time yet before the medical professional al
large Is prepared to deal with such conditions
| in the modern way.
/. Tragic Wedding
1 Is there q law f0rbfdding r. B. patients from
marrying? MRS I. c..
4 Answer believe In some states II Is illega
| for q person to contract marriage knowing h
| has tuberculosis.
Forty Winks After Lunch
4 am 30 years old. I'm the plumbing business
| Z generally take nap for 70 minutes after m,
| noon lunch. A friend says this rs bad practice
that u n hnrd ON the heart TO get zap and 20 q
work after such q nap. On. j. W.
Answcr--I should say stroll out In the opeI
after lunch, would be better for man OF you
age. But there Is, no strain ON the heart from
getting up and going back TO work after suci
tccDyrtrht ip3s. John q. ollie Co.,