266

OF NERVOUS DISEASES.

I

laughing; the sleep is unsound, and seldom refreshing ; and thepatient is often troubled with the night mare.

As the disease increases, the patient is molested with head-aches,cramps, and fixed pains in various parts of the body ; the eyes areclouded, and often affected with pain and dryness; there is a noisein the ears, and often a dulness of hearing ; in short, the wholeanimal functions are impaired. The mind is disturbed on the mosttrivial occasions, and is hurried into the most perverse commotions,inquietudes, terror, sadness, anger, diffidence, &c. The patient isapt to entertain wild imaginations and extravagant fancies ; the me-mory becomes weak, and the judgment fails.

Nothing is more characteristic of this disease than a constant dreadof death. This renders those unhappy persons who labour under itpeevish, fickle, impatient, and apt to run from one physician toanother; which is one reason why they seldom reap any benefit frommedicine, as they have not sufficient resolution to persist iii any onecourse till it has time to produce its proper effects. They are like-wise apt to imagine that they labour under diseases from which theyare quite free; and are very angry if any one attempts to set themright, or laugh them out of their ridiculous notions.

REGIMEN.------Persons afflicted with nervous diseases oughtnever

to fast long. Their food should be solid and nourishing, but of easydigestion. Fat meats and heavy sauces are hurtful. All excess shouldbe carefully avoided. They oughtnever to eat more at a time than theycan easily digest; but, if they feel themselves weak and faint b\ Iweenmeals, they ought to eat abitof bread, and drink a glass of wine. Heavysuppers are to be avoided. Though wine in excess enfeebles the body,and impairs the faculties of the mind, yet taken in moderation itstrengthens the stomach, and promotes digestion. Wine and water is avery proper drink at meals ; but if wine sours on the stomach, or thepatient is much troubled with wind, brandy and water will answer bet-ter. Every thing that is windy or hard of digestion must be avoided.All weak and warm liquors are hurtful, as tea, coffee, punch, &c. Peo-ple may find a temporary relief in the use of these, but they always in-crease the malady, as they weaken the stomach, and hurt digestion.Above all things, drams are to be avoided. Whatever immediate easethe patient may feel from the use of ardent spirits, they are sure to ag-gravate the malady, and prove certain poisons at last. These cautionsare the more necessary, as most nervous people are peculiarly fondof tea and ardent spirits; to the use of which many of them fall victims.

Exereise in nervous disorders is superior to all medicines. Ridingon horseback is generally esteemed the best, as it gives motion to thewhole body, without fatiguing it. I have known some patients, how-ever, with whom walking agreed better, and others who were mostbenefited by riding in a carriage. Every one ought to use that whichhe finds most beneficial. Long sea-voyages have an excellent effect;and, to those who have sufficient resolution, we would by all meansrecommend the course. Even the change of place, and the sight ofnew objects, by diverting the mind have a great tendency to removeihese complaints. For this reason a long journey, or a voyage, is ofmuch more advantage than riding short journeys near home.