Neurasthenia / by Gilbert Ballet ; translated from the third French edition by P. Campbell Smith.

Date:
1911
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Neurasthenia / by Gilbert Ballet ; translated from the third French edition by P. Campbell Smith. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    prescribed long journeys for their neurasthenic patients, without taking into full account both the indications and the counter-indications. In order to estimate such a method at its true value, it is enough to picture to oneself these neurasthenic travellers suffering from muscular feebleness, always tired, exhausted by a simple walk, and then to imagine them embarking for distant countries, leaving the boat to take the train, going from town to town, passing whole days in visiting monuments and museums, making continual excursions, and condemned, dyspeptics as they are, to unceasing changes in their food and mode of life. It is clear that such an existence is little calculated to restore the balance and the energy of their exhausted nervous system. It is well known that those suffering from severe neurasthenia, debilitated subjects, and those affected with gastro-intestinal atony, should remain quiet. They need a calm and regular life. It is evident that travelling in no way suits them, and, whether they stay at home or go to the country, the mountains, or the seaside, once they are installed in their new abode they should refrain from further changes and from excursions which would tire them to no purpose. Cerebrasthenicsi only, who have maintained all their muscular strength, and who are able to walk and to accomplish long excur- sions on foot without feeling too tired, are able