Depression
Sources:
Papers On Health
This is usually a bodily illness, though often regarded as
mental only. It appears in loss of interest in all that otherwise would
be most interesting. A mother loses interest in her children, a man in
his business, and so on. Students, and children overpressed at lessons,
are apt to suffer from it. It is simply the result of a drain of energy
from the system, until the brain has an insufficient supply. Those who
have
he care of the young would do well to watch carefully against
this state coming on. If it appears, all work should be given up, and
as much play take its place as possible. No cramming of ideas into a
weakening mind can ever be equal to the possession of health and
energy, as a preparation for life.
Treatment should be such as to restore energy. The whole back should be
fomented with a large blanket fomentation, being rubbed with olive oil
before and after. Let this be done for an hour in the morning; in the
evening give the ARMCHAIR FOMENTATION (see). Carry this on for a
week, and then rest for another week, only rubbing the back with a
little hot olive oil each night. Cultivate open-air life; sleep as much
as possible--eight hours at least, or better nine. Carefully prepared
and easily digested food should be given, and change of company, scene,
and climate are most effective helps; but rest from work is the chief
matter. See Restlessness and Worry.