Clinical lectures on neurasthenia / by Thomas D. Savill.

  • Savill, Thomas Dixon, 1856-1910.
Date:
1902
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Clinical lectures on neurasthenia / by Thomas D. Savill. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    IC>9 a little confused at times, but this always passes off immedi¬ ately on the cessation of the drug. But I have often found that still simpler measures will procure sleep, such, for instance, as a glass of “toddy” the last thing at night, or warm milk and water containing twenty grains of hypophosphite of soda. Among my private patients I stipulate that they shall spend twelve hours in bed, taking their breakfast before rising. You will perhaps pardon my entering into what may appear to you such trivial details, but I am persuaded that success in the cure of this disease often depends on atten¬ tion to minutiae such as these. I well remember a lady, abe<^ 53> a professors wife, who consulted me in 1896 for melancholic vigilism—that is, wakefulness at night, attended by imaginary fears, accompanied by attacks of prostration, of sighing, and other obscure neurasthenic symptoms. I treated her upon the lines previously described for some time, but her improvement dated from the day when she commenced hypophosphite of soda in warm milk at night and partook of her breakfast in bed each morning. She herself attributed her recovery to the latter for, she said, “it relieves me of the bustle and rush of the morning.” Descending spinal galvanism and hypnotism are means on which one can also rely to allay the irritability of the nervous system. I have already referred to the former. General faradisation of the limbs and static electricity are invaluable remedies to promote the tone of the muscles. Great results have been claimed for the d’Arsonval method of applying the high frequency current. Hypnotism can only be of service in uncomplicated cases, under certain conditions, as an adjunct to other treatment. I have known it successful in cases due to shock, grief, and anxiety. It may be useful in procuring sleep, or the calm