Certain symptoms of nervous exhaustion / by George M. Beard.

  • Beard, George M. (George Miller), 1839-1883.
Date:
1878
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Certain symptoms of nervous exhaustion / by George M. Beard. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    a medley of nervous symploms induced Ly sunstroke—a not uncommon cause of neurastlienia. lie was an enormous, herculean man, hut gave a history that would well luive be- htted the most delicate and hysterical woman. Fifthly.—iSTervous exhaustion is a modern disease, aud pre- eminently an American disease-, and in this coimtiy is cliieily found in the ]!^orth and East. This disease must, therefore, he studied here; we cannot, as in so many other diseases, look to Germany for light and information—for in Germany this condition is comparatively unknown, and in France and England is far more rare than with us. It is a disease al- most exclusively of the Avell-to-do classes, and can, therefore, he satisfactorily studied only in private practice. ^ledioal treatises founded entirely on hospital and dispensary expe- rience are of little service to those who desire guidance in the analysis of this or of kindred disorders. Sixthly.—The treatment of nervous exhaustion should he in general of.a sedative and tonic character; should not he exclusively applied to any one of these special sym})toms, hut to the whole condition—to the main trunk and not to the. separate branches. Electricity in central and general applications with both currents, varied aud abundant food, passive exercise, as massage, in some eases, absolute rest in bed, in others, mild, active exercise, and the judicious use of such remedies as relate to the nerve-centres, counter- irritation by very small blisters, or the actual cautery, dry cold to the urethra through the cooling catheter, lor the special form known as sexual exhaustion; fats, tish and phosphates of various kinds—and internally, cannabis indlca in small doses, combined with the bromides, strychnine, of course, with calabar beau, the preparations of zinc aud arsenic, gel- Bcminum aud bromohydric acid, catfeiu, malt and oil—under this system of treatment, ada[)tcd witli care and study for iu- dividualid iosyucrasies, and condhned witli right hygiene, the majority of cases of neurastlienia can be jieruumently relieved, if not substantially cured.