The systematic treatment of nerve prostration and hysteria.

  • Playfair, W. S. (William Smoult), 1836-1903.
Date:
1883
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The systematic treatment of nerve prostration and hysteria. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

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    sorts of treatment in vain, and I trust that the simple narration of these remarkable cases, which are not selected, but are the first which have come under my observation, may secure for this rational treatment a fair and extended trial. Before relat- ing them, however, I shall shortly describe the method of treatment I used, and in doing this I merely paraphrase Dr. Mitchell's directions. I must necessarily be extremely brief, and I must refer those who are disposed to try it to Dr. Mitchell's book, in which full details for their guidance will be found. The plan involves four principal heads, each of which I shall refer to separately. 1. Seclusion a?id Rest.—An important element in the treatment—and one which, from what I have seen of these cases, I believe to be absolutely indispensable—is the entire seclusion of the patient under a competent nurse, and her removal from the morbid atmosphere of invalid habits, which has gradually grown up around her. Unless the patient is entirely removed from the injudicious sympathy and constant tending of her friends, it will be next to impossible to gain that moral influence over her which is really essential to