Neurasthenia.

Otago Witness, Issue 2895, 8 September 1909, Page 74

Neurasthenia.

Neura-sth-3nia is a nervous disorder with- I out any known alteration in the organic j structure of th-e body, characterised by a continual state of extreme weakness and nervous prostration after the slightest exer tion. There is usually considerable mental depression and inability or indisposition to perform t.ny mental work. The weak- j news and fatigue are out of all proportion to any apparent cause. The symptoms, indeed, closely resemble those experienced during the early days of convalescence from an acute fever. In a large proportion of the cases there exists a curious headache, which 16 not so much painful as distressing j th" sensarion t>smj> one of pressure or fulness, so that the patients often comp.kin that they cannot get rid of the feeling of a heavy weight on their bead. The wsakenjnjr of the nerve and muscular energy is of i e\'<*ry »Vgrei of intensity. In its slightest fo/ms it may consist merely of a s»nsatio $i oi tiredness aftei ordinary exertion, but may be insufficient to pre\ent the pati-ent fioin attending to his ordinary busmen. In other cas^s the pain is so extreme that ihe patient feels unable even to rai&c him.-elf on the elbow Feeble digestion i> the rule Sleepl-essne^ also is extremely coin mon. Xeuratt'-'onia is not a ilan^ci'oui ' disease, and pro\idcd c suitable treatment b* -strictly onforc-jd the majority of cr.^s . mo\o steadily towards reco\«iy. In (he ' 4»vrre ca-^s complete rest in bod for a few week-! aid i olation from friends is essential —Tho Treatment. — A -\ery full, nourishing diet, :oi.c:stin? , largely tf milk, should bo conipulsorily I a'^n'iputCiC-'l dun >t; thi< time. Afterwards j steady and iiiu<mmili; o\Moor r-.evji-e i •shou'd be taken, amid «uivui>n-l'!i~s of in- I ir;r^, ires r ic>ii a'l v.ork and anxiety. ( Ma--ag : am! cold spon^mgs aie \aiuabie | part, of tho treatment thrcuc iout The j great nindi.ince 10 the vjcees'-iul treatment , of neurasthenia u-suallj consist ■> in t'T> ( patient's friends. They generally eith;.- , believe the disease to be imaginary, and i M) -ncrease the suffeiings and disticss of ! the patient, or on the other liahd they dis- ! play_ a foolish sympathy which is no lc-s ] harmful Nothing, a3 "Weir Mitehsll has | pointed out. is more curious, nothing moro , =ad and pitiful, than these partnerships between the sick and selfit-h and tha eound and over-loving. The patient has pain, a tender spine, foi example: she i« urged to give it re-5l She cannot read: the selfconstituted nurse reads to her. At lost light hurt* lv>r ejes: the mother «r sister

remains shut up witJi her all day in; a darfe ened room. A draught of air is supposed' to do her 3iarm, and fche doore and win' dows are closed. To cure suoh a case you must morally alter as well as physicallj amend, and nothing less will answer. The first step needful is to break up the companionship, and to substitute the firm kindness of a well-trained hired nurse. — Causes and Early Symptoms of Neurasthenia. — Dr Pollock has named over-sensibility aa often the earliest symptom of mental strain. That which did not offend before, or which was tolerated as one of the inevitable accompaniments of business relations wdtfo. one's fell-owe, becomes a- source of £anoyance. In our intsircourse of life, in all ih& ordinary dealings where man- meets his fellow, we are accustomed to encounter persons more or less troublesome — it may be vain, vulgar, or intrusive. The wise mat goes or his way without taking offence or showing a too refined sensitiveness. For heads of business houses tihie is a necessity, and the tact which eludes the troublesome and vain ie> in daily requisition. An<( so in every department of life where man meets man there is a preservative power and balance of temper which- is a^ei-oisedi without thought, and costs us little exertion. But there comee a time w-nen trifles such as these- rise into importance — they remain, just the same, but we have changed 1 . We cannot tolerate slight mistakes, the littl< peculiarities of others that may be thrust in our way, or even any slig.ht interference with our own routine. We find ourselves taking offence where none TOas intended.; we are testy where formerly prudent and forbearing, and trivial matters distress and annoy us. * A singular feature in all this is that tho individual perceives it himself, and the discovery adds to his annoyance, and he is thus rendered more irritable. This irritability is the first evident sign of mental strain. The balance of the temper has become disturbed, and we are restless and dissatisfied. With this state, or quickly following it, comes -loss of sleep. Either the sufferer cannot get off to sleep, or, having had a -couple of hours repose, he wakes suddenly, and many disagreeable thougihta instantly intrude themselves, and generally in an exaggerated: form. Tbe events of the past day are vividly depicted, and minutest details are rehearsed in falsa colours. Past and apparently forgotten events also appear in ghastly form, and the mind takes but little cognisance of the actual and true counterbalancing foots which, were he in broad day, would instantly suggest themselves, and probably put quite a different aspect on his affairs. But'for tbe time he sees through a glass darkly, and will not be comforted. Tho morning finds him peevish and out of appetite, and when he goes down to his place of business his temper is perhaps not equal to the events of the day.