MELANCHOLY.

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an infusion of senna and rhubarb in brandy answer very well.This may be made of any strength, and taken in such quan-tity as the patient finds necessary. When digestion is bad orthe stomach relaxed and weak, an infusion of the Peruvianbark and other bitters may be used with advantage.*

Few things tend more to strengthen the nervous systemthan cold bathing. This practice, if duly persisted in, willproduce very extraordinary effects. But when the liver orother viscera are obstructed, or otherwise unsound, the coldbath is improper. The most proper seasons for it are sum-mer and autumn. It will be sufficient, especially for personsof a spare habit, to go into the cold bath three or four times aweek. If the patient be weakened by it, or feels chilly for along time after coming out, it is improper.

In patients afflicted with wind, I have always observed thegreatest benefit from the acid elixir of vitriol. It may be takenin the quantity of fifteen, twenty, or thirty drops, twice orthrice a day, in a glass of water. This both expels wind,strengthens the stomach, and promotes digestion.

Opiates are greatly extolled in these maladies ; but as theyonly palliate the symptoms, and generally afterwards increasethe disease, we would advise people to be extremely sparingin the use of them, lest habit render them at last absolutelynecessary.

It would be an easy matter to enumerate many medicineswhich have been extolled for relieving nervous disorders ; butwhoever wishes for a thorough cure must expect it from regi-men alone. We shall therefore omit mentioning more medi-cines, and again recommend the strictest attention to diet,

AIR, EXERCISE, and AMÜSEMENTS.

MELANCHOLY.

Melancholy is that state of alienation or weakness of mindwhich renders people incapable of enjoying the pleasures orperforming the duties of life. It is a degree of insanity, andoften terminates in absolute madness.

* Take of Peruvian bark an ounce, gentian-rftit, orange-péel, andcoriander-seed, of each half an ounce ; let these ingredients be allbruised in a mortar, and infused in a bottle of brandy or whisky forthe space of five or six days. A table-spoonful of the strained liquormay be taken in half a glass of water an hour before breakfast, din-ner, and supper.

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