Anxiety of Mind from whatever cause induced, if long contined, may
occasion functional disturbances in various organs of the body. It may
be the occasion of dyspepsia, palpitation of the heart, inflammation of
the brain, etc. If treatment is adopted early it can usually be cured.
" Moral therapeutics " are of more value than medicine. A change of
scene, absence from one's accustomed duties and surroundings, will
relieve in many instances the strain upon the tired brain and allow it to
recover its lost tone and vigor without the aid of medicine.
Sleeplessness is a symptom of nervous exhaustion. Long continued
wakefulness disorders the whole system and may lead to serious disease
of the brain and is a cause of insanity. A sleepless night cannot be
recovered from by any siesta during the day. It is only during the
night that refreshing sleep can be procured. Persons troubled with
wakefulness should take daily exercise in the open air. It is a good
idea to take a walk just before retiring. It is a popular error to sup-
pose that eating just before bed-time tends to wakefulness, on the con-
trary, a hearty supper of plain, easily digested food rather predisposes
to sleep. This is due to the fact that the process of digestion requires
an increased amount of blood in the organs that perform it and conse-
quently less is sent to the brain. It is necessary, however, that the food
taken shall be of a digestible and non-irritating character. Most of the
cases of wakefulness among women are of a passive variety, which
require nutritious food and a certain amount of stimulants. Of the lat-
ter, sherry wine is the best. A wineglassful with dinner; never between
meals. Next to sherry, good lager beer, which may be taken at any
time.
264 MEDICAL.
Alcoholic stimulants should never be taken except at meals. By
following this rule, there is no danger of acquiring the habit of intem-
perance.
In what is known as the active or sthenic form of wakefulness —
which oftener occurs in males — stimulants would increase rather than
diminish the difficulty. A mustard poultice applied to the stomach, or
cold foot bath just before retiring, will sometimes do good.
Sleep always begins at the extremities; hence not only the mind
should be at rest, but the feet should be kept still. Various medicines
are used to produce sleep, but most of them are of such a nature that
their use, except under the direction of a physician, is unadvisable.
A Sick Headache is often a symptom of nervous disease, and is
due to some irritation of the nerve which is connected with the
stomach. The medicinal agents which have afforded most relief
in these cases are, powdered guarana, thirty grains, to be taken in
water and repeated every hour until relief is obtained, or liquor ammonia
acetatis (spiritus mindereris), one or two tablespoonfuls. every hour.
During the attack the patient should remain in a horizontal position,
and if there is much flushing of the face, denoting congestion, apply a
bag of hot salt to the nape of the neck.
Rose cold or hay fever is due to an irritation of the thoracic branches
of the pneumo-gastric nerve. There is no specific for it. The remedy
which seems to have accomplished most good is quinine, a two-grain
pill every two hours until relieved.
Page 234
Presented as published in 1886. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
Anxiety of Mind from whatever cause induced, if long continued, may occasion functional disturbances in various organs of the body. It may be the occasion of dyspepsia, palpitation of the heart, inflammation of the brain, etc. If treatment is adopted early it can usually be cured. " Moral therapeutics " are of more value than medicine. A change of scene, absence from one's accustomed duties and surroundings, will relieve in many instances the strain upon the tired brain and allow it to recover its lost tone and vigor without the aid of medicine.
Sleeplessness is a symptom of nervous exhaustion. Long continued wakefulness disorders the whole system and may lead to serious disease of the brain and is a cause of insanity. A sleepless night cannot be recovered from by any siesta during the day. It is only during the night that refreshing sleep can be procured. Persons troubled with wakefulness should take daily exercise in the open air. It is a good idea to take a walk just before retiring. It is a popular error to suppose that eating just before bed-time tends to wakefulness, on the contrary, a hearty supper of plain, easily digested food rather predisposes to sleep. This is due to the fact that the process of digestion requires an increased amount of blood in the organs that perform it and consequently less is sent to the brain. It is necessary, however, that the food taken shall be of a digestible and non-irritating character. Most of the cases of wakefulness among women are of a passive variety, which require nutritious food and a certain amount of stimulants. Of the latter, sherry wine is the best. A wineglassful with dinner; never between meals. Next to sherry, good lager beer, which may be taken at any time.
Alcoholic stimulants should never be taken except at meals. By following this rule, there is no danger of acquiring the habit of intemperance.
In what is known as the active or sthenic form of wakefulness — which oftener occurs in males — stimulants would increase rather than diminish the difficulty. A mustard poultice applied to the stomach, or cold foot bath just before retiring, will sometimes do good.
Sleep always begins at the extremities; hence not only the mind should be at rest, but the feet should be kept still. Various medicines are used to produce sleep, but most of them are of such a nature that their use, except under the direction of a physician, is unadvisable.
A Sick Headache is often a symptom of nervous disease, and is due to some irritation of the nerve which is connected with the stomach. The medicinal agents which have afforded most relief in these cases are, powdered guarana, thirty grains, to be taken in water and repeated every hour until relief is obtained, or liquor ammonia acetatis (spiritus mindereris), one or two tablespoonfuls. every hour. During the attack the patient should remain in a horizontal position, and if there is much flushing of the face, denoting congestion, apply a bag of hot salt to the nape of the neck.
Rose cold or hay fever is due to an irritation of the thoracic branches of the pneumo-gastric nerve. There is no specific for it. The remedy which seems to have accomplished most good is quinine, a two-grain pill every two hours until relieved.