Nervous Prostration
Sources: Papers On HealthPersons suffering from nervous prostration have
probably allowed the urgency of seeming duty to drive them on in work
till the vital energies have been fairly exhausted. At last they are
completely broken down, and the very fountains of life are dried up.
The brain itself has become incapable of giving sleep, or sound
thought. But there is no need for despondency: this trouble is
perfectly curable, only the right means
In every case of real "nervous prostration," our question must be--How
shall we enable this vital element to recreate itself? The answer is,
with heat. Here we may detail the process which we know to be
successful. Dip a four-ply cotton cloth in cayenne lotion, and lightly
wring out. Lay this gently over the stomach and bowels, and over this
an india-rubber bag full of hot water. All must be only hot enough to
be comfortable. This application may remain on for two hours without
any change, then it is repeated. Where no bag can be had, a good thick
fomentation should be used instead. See Nerves, Shaken; Nerves,
Troubled, and all articles on nervous trouble.
Much depends on consideration of the individual case, and careful
thought and strong sense are needed on the part of all dealing with
such cases. (See Changing Treatment.)
Dessertspoonfuls of light food should be given every half-hour, and
increased in quantity as the patient can bear it. Avoid alcohol and all
narcotics.
More
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Lungs Bleeding From
This is usually taken as a most alarming, and even hopeless, symptom. It is not necessarily so at all, and even when a considerable amount of blood is lost, the patient may recover. Therefore, let friends not be frightened when this occurs, but bend ... Lungs Congestion Of The
Treatment as below. Read preceding and succeeding articles. ... Lungs Inflammation Of The
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Is now known to be conveyed by the bite of a certain kind of mosquito. Those who live in a malarious district should carefully exclude these from their houses, and by draining swamps and covering water butts prevent their breeding, which is always in ... Massage
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An attack of this disease generally begins with a feeling of weariness. Then it appears as running and irritation of the eyes and nostrils, at which stage it is often taken for a common cold, the symptoms being very similar. Then this irritation sprea... Medicines
The delusion that health can be restored by swallowing drugs is so widespread that we think it well to quote the following wise words from the Lancet:-- "An eminent physician not long deceased was once giving evidence in a will case, and on being a... Memory Loss Of
A more or less complete suspension of this faculty is a not uncommon form of mental and bodily illness. We do not so much mean the mere fading of past impressions as the loss of power to recall them, so that we cannot recall what we wish to remember. ... Mind In Disease
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 men... Mineral Acids And Glacial Acetic
If any neutralising agent, such, e.g., as lime, chalk, soda, or calcined magnesia, is at hand, give it at once. Or give an emetic, followed by oil or milk and water. ... Miscarriage
An expectant mother should lead a quiet, orderly and healthful life (see Child-birth). By this we do not mean laziness nor idleness, nor treating herself as an invalid. On the contrary, plenty of work, both physical and mental, and regular exercise ar... Muscular Action Weak
The heart is the most important of all muscles. Sometimes the action of this is so weak that the pulse in the right wrist is imperceptible, and that in the left extremely feeble. The heart may be beating at the usual rate, only its stroke is much too ... Muscular Pains
These pains occur usually when a patient has been for some time in one position, sitting or lying, and rises suddenly in a particular way. They sometimes take such hold of the breast or back muscles as to make it appear as if some serious disease were... Mushrooms
Emetic; castor oil and enema. ... Mustard Oil
Where this is recommended the cold-drawn oil is meant, not the essential oil. The latter is a fiery blister. ... Narcotics
The use of these to give temporary relief, often degenerating into a habit, causes so much serious disease that we have felt constrained to insert an article warning our readers in regard to it. The use of tobacco we have found a fruitful source of da... Neck Stiff
For this, rub the whole back with soap lather (see Lather; Soap), and then with acetic acid and olive oil. Rub the neck itself as recommended for Muscular Action. ... Neck Twisted
This arises from the undue contraction of some of the muscles in the neck. It generally shows itself first in the evening, after the day's fatigue, and if neglected, or treated with blistering, iodine, etc., may become a chronic affliction. Yet it is ... Nerve Centres Failing
Many diseases flow from this cause, but at present we only consider one. That is where a "numbness" begins to show itself in fingers and toes, and to creep up the limbs. No time should be lost in treating such a case. It arises from failure in the spi... Nerve Pain
See Pain. ... Nerve Shock
After a fright, or some very trying experience, some part of the nervous system is frequently found to have given way. Heat is felt in the stomach. Then, if no treatment is given, curious feelings come on in the back of the head. Even inflammation of ... Nerves Shaken
By this we mean, not the nerve trouble which follows a sudden injury or fright, but the result of long-continued worry and overwork. Sleeplessness, great irritability of temper, depressing thoughts, restlessness, and even a wish for death, are all sym... Nerves Spinal
The spinal cord is continuous with the back part of the brain. It is a mass of nerve fibres, and from it branch off in pairs, all the way down from the brain, the great nerves which move the limbs and muscles of the body, and receive the impressions o... Nerves Troubled
Often a state of the nerves exists, without any apparent unhealthiness, which makes the whole system so sensitive, that ordinary sights, sounds, and smells become unbearable, and the patient feels the ordinary round of experience, which would never be... Nervous Attacks
What we call, for want of a better name, "nerve force," or "nerve action," is at any one time a definite quantity. In health it is distributed to all the sets of nerves equally, so that all work in harmony. But if its distribution be altered in certai... Nervous Prostration
Persons suffering from nervous prostration have probably allowed the urgency of seeming duty to drive them on in work till the vital energies have been fairly exhausted. At last they are completely broken down, and the very fountains of life are dried... Nervousness
This frequent and distressing trouble is to be traced to a state of the nervous system in which sensibility has got the upper hand, and self-control is partly lost. It is difficult accurately and briefly to describe, but is an easily recognisable stat... Nettle Rash
This is an eruption on the skin, often coming suddenly and going off again, but sometimes of long standing. It resembles in appearance the sting of a nettle--hence the name. It is accompanied by an intolerable itching, and is a very sore trouble where... Neuralgia
This is severe pain in one part or other of the body, sometimes followed by swelling of the painful part, but frequently without much sign of anything wrong at that point. It is, as the name implies, a trouble affecting the nerves which are connected ... Nicotine (tobacco)
Emetic; stimulate and keep warm; keep patient lying down. ... Night Coughs
These frequently remain as the so-called dregs of some illness, and are found very persistent. They are also frequently very alarming, as they are thought to indicate some trouble in the lungs, and as immediate steps should be taken to check this, it ... Night Pains
If these are of the nature of cramps, which come on while lying in bed, the treatment is similar to that given above as morning treatment for Night Coughs, only the cooling must be continued for three-quarters of an hour or longer, fomenting the legs ... Night Sweats
This distressing symptom, which accompanies various illnesses, can in most cases be easily cured. The whole skin is to be sponged over at bedtime with CAYENNE LOTION (see). This is best done under the bed-clothes. Acetic acid, the effective essence in... Nightmare
In serious cases of this trouble, the patient awakes some time before he gains any power whatever to move, feeling held as in a vice. But in common instances, the attack is entirely during sleep, and accompanied by frightful dreams. A heavily-loaded s... Noise And Disease
Perhaps nothing shows more the lack of human feeling in many people than the manner in which they inflict sore distress on the sick and dying by means of noise. Moreover, recovery is retarded, and has sometimes been wholly prevented, by nothing but a ... Nostrils The
The disease called Polypus, affecting the mouth or nostril with growths which are usually removed by force, is one of those troubles curable by proper use of vinegar or weak acetic acid. The extraction of the Polypi is painful, and we have ourselves s... Nourishment
Nothing is more required in healing than properly to nourish the enfeebled body. In its commencement proper nourishment demands a proper mixture of food and saliva. In fever, if there be little or no saliva present, food requiring much saliva to fit i... Nourishment Cold In
If a person is in fever, and is burning with internal heat, a little bit of ice, sucked in the mouth, gives great relief. The relief is got in this way: the melted ice, in the form of water, is little in bulk in proportion to the heat which is absorbe... Nourishment Heat In
Heat is absorbed in building up the bodily tissues, and given off when they are disintegrated. To rightly understand this is of great importance in all treatment. When a living substance is growing, it demands heat. An illustration of this is the sun... Nursing Over
Few vital processes are more remarkable than that by which food fitted for adults becomes in the mother's breast food fit for the little infant. In nursing it is well to remember that all food is not equally fit to be so changed. Well-boiled porridge,... Oil Olive
A little oil only should be applied to the skin at once. Any such smearing as dirties the clothes or bedclothes is quite unnecessary. Since the first edition of these papers was published, the use of oil in the "massage" treatment has become so wid... Opium
See Narcotics. ... Oranges
Some things regarding this useful fruit require to be noted by those using them in sickness. To eat the whole substance of an orange except the outer rind is to give the digestive system some hard work. We have known most serious stomach disturbance c... Oxalic Acid
Neutralise by chalk or lime water, but not by soda or any alkali. Give plenty of water; apply hot fomentations to loins. ... Pain Severe In Limbs
This is often not due to any trouble in the joint itself, but to some disorder in the large nerves which have their roots in the lower part of the back. In the case of severe pains in the back of the leg, ankle, or knee, when a chill to the large limb... Palpitation
Ordinarily we are not aware of the beating of the heart, enormous as is the work it does; but in certain cases this beating becomes distressingly violent, especially on lying down flat or in ascending hills or stairs. The latter cases are the more ser... Palsy
See Paralysis. ... Paralysis
This serious trouble in slighter forms affects one side of the face, or even one eye only. More serious attacks involve the arm, and even an entire half of the body. It may come suddenly, or may creep slowly over the frame. In very old persons the cas... Perspiration
By this term we mean not only the sensible perspiration which is felt as a distinct wetness on the skin during exertion or heat, or in some illnesses, but also, and chiefly, the constant insensible perspiration. This latter is far more important than ... Phosphorus
Often caused by children sucking matches. There is a burning in the throat, and often vomiting. Give an emetic. After this some barley water or milk may be given. ...