Health and Body-Building.

Southern Cross, Volume 14, Issue 50, 2 March 1907, Page 12

Health and BodyBuilding.

(By Physical Culturist).. Of all t'ho diseases, menial or physical, none are so little understood, negiecned, and badly treated as nervousness. It is not 'generally accepted as a condition needing the utmost care and stringent attention, and frequently it is a disease which could be traced to the brain, hcqrt, or spinal cord, which has set up an irritable state of the - network of nervous filaments, and produced the painful and depressing - symptoms so frequent. Such a condition of the nervous system. though not recognised by any technical name in our medical nomenclature, should be boldly faced by the sufferer, and. a determined stand made against it. Some of the symptoms are mpst distressing, fear and anxiety beingforemost. The sufferer frequently is overwhelmed with thoughts 'of evil, which follow him day and night ; fear of some malignant disease, failure i;n business, and not unfrequently, fear of death.

A letter or a telegram " will give him quite a shock ; in sonic cases he dare not open them for fear of evil tidings. It is curious to note that in almost every- case the sufferer becomes wonderfully solicitous regarding his health. Every symptom, every pain, and in fact, every sensation he watches with the keenest relish. Shall we look to some of the causes ? Unhesitatingly we can say : nervousness is the expected offspring of modern living—civilisation has here one of her hothouse plants. Insufficient exercise and want of fresh air ; severe study, and long and close application to books ; also grief, allowing the miiud to constantly to dwell upon some depressing thoughts ; “drinking, late hours, disappointment, worry, etc.. are all causes of nervousness.

Too often such sufferings are lightly treated, and often called fancies, which arc ridiculed, and the sufferer is left to battle his nervous disease alone. In the majority of nervous cases prolonged treatment is necessary. but although this is so, sudh treatment is very beneficial to the genera 1 sy s t cm. 1. Change the diet, if it bo a mixed ora- : go in for vegetarianism, with a. plentiTul supply of fruit and nu's; if a moat diet be taken. Jet the flesh be taken with a supply of fat ; (ish twice weekly, if possible.

2. Upon retiring at night take a shallow bath as follows ;—Place the water to the depth of about five inches and sit in it ; now vigopousiy rub the legs, arms, abdomen, etc., exerting yourself as much as possible in exciting the circulation.

•3. if sleeplessness accompanies the •symptoms, upon retiring - place a wet handkerchief wrung out in gold water, over the stomach, then a dry towel over that, and secure with a safety-pin.

4. Practise deep breathing before meals.

The patient, should keep his mind buis'Lly employed all day, and not allow his thoughts to wander.