Mind In Disease
Sources:
Papers On Health
Often a person, because of physical failure, becomes
possessed of an utterly erroneous idea, which no reasoning can change
or remove. Indeed, reasoning in such cases is best avoided. Attention
should rather be directed to the physical cause of the mental state,
with a view to its removal. Very probably you will find there is want
of sleep, with a dry hard state of the skin of the head, and too high
an internal temperature. You may then work wonders by soaping the head
(see Head, Soaping). The back also should be soaped similarly. If too
great a cooling effect is produced by this, wipe off the soap and rub
hot olive oil on the back instead. If this is not sufficient, rub the
limbs also with the hot oil. We have seen the most pronounced insanity
yield to this treatment, where the cause has been physical and not
mental. The secret of success is in so balancing the heat and cooling
applications that the utmost possible soothing can be given without any
chill.