A practical treatise on nervous exhaustion (neurasthenia) : its symptoms, nature, sequences, treatment / by George M. Beard. A.M., M.D. edited with notes and additions, by A. D. Rockwell.

  • Beard, George M. (George Miller), 1839-1883.
Date:
1888
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A practical treatise on nervous exhaustion (neurasthenia) : its symptoms, nature, sequences, treatment / by George M. Beard. A.M., M.D. edited with notes and additions, by A. D. Rockwell. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University Libraries/Information Services, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University.

    248/268 (page 242)
    may be a specific for a certain case; it may be precisely the most injurious thing that can be suggested for another case, Ahiiost all medicines are apt to be used indiscriminately, but I doubt whether there is any medicine which is more indiscriminately used than travel, especially in the form of a trip to Europe. For the majority of cases, judicious treatment does more good than travel. Very often I am called upon to treat those Avho have travelled almost everywhere, seeking help and finding none. One month, or even one week of treatment will oftentimes do more for the relief of the worst neurasthenic symptoms, than a whole year of travel. One needs indeed a certain degree of health and nerve-force to travel with pleasure or advantage: as a supplement to treatment, sensible travel is often of the highest benefit. Short Vacations.—In the cases that are supposed to be nervous prostration, the very best results are often- times accomplibUed, in both cerebrasthenia and myelas- thenia. when the patient remains at home, or near at home, or at least in his own country, by short vaca- tions. Trills that last for perhaps but two or three days, or even a single day, especially a change from city to country air, sometimes brings great relief. And oftentimes there is no need of breaking up busi- ness, or interfering with the plans of life. Horse-hack Riclimj.—Horse-back riding, like travel in Europe, is a remedy that has been most unscien- tifically recommended and used. Like travel, it may be one of the best or one of the worst of exercises, according to the temperament and special condition of the patient. In individual cases it is a specific for good; in other cases it is a specific for harm. I have seen patients whose maladies were brought on or jnade much worse by severe riding, kept up for a long