Democratic Sentinel, Volume 7, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 April 1883 — Hypochondrines. [ARTICLE]

Hypochondrines.

i nhvsici&nin this country, who mtdi several years ago a system oi treatment which he called the Best Chore, for patients whose nervous systems tr«re exhaosted from overwork or other causes The sufferer was taken from, home and Separated wholly from her friends, which at onoe did away both with old associations and with coddling. ' She was put to bed in a sunny, cheerful chamber, in the oare of a skillful nurse, and forbidden to move hand or foot. She -mm fed and tended like an infant; well fed, too, the meals being nourishing and frequent. Instead of exercise, she was manipulated once or twice a day. Patients who were real sufferers rose from this treatment strong, fat and rosy. But unfortunately there are nervous patients who are shams to whom such a regimen would be intolerable. Dr. Dash was sent for once ip haste to a wealthy woman in Newl%k, supposed to bodying, though no physician could discover her ailment. She had not tasted food for days. Her 1 were incessant, her features Mid pitched as fa articulo mortis. Hct friends, exhausted by months of nursing, Q|ood witting to see her depart. The doctor made a close examination of tile 0099. She recognized him and her eyes gathered intelligence. 'Tm dying, doctor,” she moaned. “Nothing of the kind,” shortly. “What ails me?” ‘ she said, after a louder shriek. He looked jber steadily in theeye. “A husband who has too much money, ” he answered, briefly. Then, turning to the attfendanta, He said, “Ttjke her up, dress her, and bring her some beefsteak and hr&d and butter.” . Tjtm treatment was- brutally blqnt, fs, but it cured the patient. She however, forgave thp physician. Another case was that of a leader of ’fashion in a Southern city, whb oanfe with her suite of husband, maids, lapdog, etc., tp him to be oured, declaring herself “a perfect wreck.” For a oouple of days he watched her through her usual routine: lolling on a couch through the day—groaning, shuddering, helpless —thep up at night brilliantly dressed for ball or opera. As th© result of his watching h e ordered her into the hospital, and put her through the Usual regimen of bed, absolute inaction, solitude and manipulation. On the day she jessed herself stole out of the house and■ to the station, and literally ran away, nev% hkltjng until she was at New priegns, from which city shf telegraphed for heir husband and /or her Clowes. Neryops diseases are alanpyigly rife m this country. But a nervousness born of idleness, or of fashionable dissipation, or of morbid sensibility, which makes victims npt only 6f the patient but of fyer family. Many a household is enslaved by these irritable invalids, who do not realize the Cause of thChr nervousness, and who pnly need fresh air, hard, daily work apd regular ' hours of sleep at night to curfi them of their fancied ills.