304

NERVOUS DISEASES.

very copious and quite clear. There is a great tightness of thebreast, with difficulty of breathing- ; violent palpitations of theheart ; sudden flushings of heat in various parts of the body • atother times a sense of cold, as if water were poured on them ■ 'flymg pams in the arms and limbs, pains in the back and belly, resemblmg those occasioned by gravel; the pulse very variable,sometimes uncommonly slow, and at other times very quick ; yawn-ing, the hiccup, frequent sighing, and a sense of suffocation, as iffrom a ball or lump in the throat ; alternate fits of crying and con-vulsive laughing; the sleep is unsound, and seldom refreshing : andthe patient is often troubled with the nightmare.

As the disease increases, the patient is molested with vertio-osyncope, head-achs, cramps, and fixed pains in various parts "ofthe body ; the eyes are clouded, and often affected with pain anddryness; there is a noise in the ears, and often a dulness of hear-ing; m short, the whole animal functions are impaired. The mindis disturbed on the most trivial occasions, and is hurried into the?«j perve r e commotions, inquietudes, terror, sadness, anger,diffidence, &c. The patient is apt toentertain wild imaginationsand extravagant fancies; the memory becomes weak, and thejudgment fails.

Nothing is more characteristic of this disease than a constantdread of death. This renders those unhappy persons who labourunder it peevish, fickle, impatient, and apt to run from one physi-cian to another; which is one reason why they seldom reap anybenent trom medicine, as they have not sufficient resolution topersist ui any one course till it has time to prodlI( . e ¡ts proper efL

tects. Ihey are likewise apt to imagine that they labour under dis-eases from which they are quite free ; and are very anory if an7one attempts to set them right, or laugh them out of their ridicu-lous notions.

Regimen.— Persons afflicted with nervous diseases ought neverto fast long. Their food should be solid and nourishing, but ofeasy digestion. Fat meats and heavy sauces are hurtful. All ex-cess should be carefully avoided. They ought never to eat moreat a time than they can easily digest ; and heavy suppers are to beavoided. If they feel themselves weak and faint between meal«they ought to eat a bit of bread, and drink a glass of wine. Thoughwine in excess enfeebles the body, and impairs the faculties of themind, yet taken m moderation, it strengthens the stomach, andpromotes digestion. Wine and water is a very proper drink atmea s; but if wine sours on the stomach, or the patient b muchtroubled with wind, brandy and water will answer better. Everytlnng that is windy or hard of digestion must be avoided. Allweak and warm liquors are hurtful; as tea, coffee, punch, &c.I eople may find a temporary relief in the use of these, but theyalways increase the malady, as they weaken the stomach, and hurtdigestion. Above all things, drams are to be avoided. Whateverimmediate ease the patient may feel from the use of ardent spir-its, they are sure, to aggravate the malady, and prove, certain poi-sons at last. These cautions are the more necessary, as most ner-vous people are peculiarly fond of tea and ardent spirits ; to theuse of which many of them fall victims.