The Rest Cure

Southland Times, Issue 14333, 29 April 1899, Page 1 (Supplement)

The Rest Cure

Nowadays everyone seems to be in a burry ; they cram twice as much into one day as our grandmothers would have attempted to do in two weeks, They run from business to pleasure, and from play to work, and then are surprised that they break down. Besides all this their nervous sy«tem seems shaken to pieces, they lose their temper on the' smallest provocation, they are excitable, hysterical, and apt to cryjif anything goes wrong with them ; they become sleepless, over-nervous, and most trying to have to live with. They lose appetite and interest in the things that formerly concerned them vitally, and seem on on the very verge of a nervous breakdown. They become overtired at the very least exertion, and late hours and hot rooms begin to affect them as they have never done before. All this is perhaps the inevitable consequence of over-busy life. But there is no reason why steps should not be taken as soon as the first symptoms appear, to prevent things going so far as to necessitate doctors and nurses, and all the accompaniments of a nervous breakdown. What is known as the ‘ Rest Cure’ is an outcome of all this over-excitability and over-strain. It Ins been practised for many years, both on the Continent and at home, and doctors are constantly ordering it with the very best results. The course pursued is in some cases a very severe one, but severe cases need vigorous treatment, and light measures would be found to be of no value whatever. The patient is taken entirely away from home and all its influences‘and surroundings, generally to some house under her doctor’s supervision. She is put to bed for a week in a bright, cheerful room, but where there is no noise either from outside or inside to be heard. The nurse who waits on her is carefully selected, with no nerves, and a bright cheerful nature. Meals are frequent and regular and plain. A certain amount of medicineanay or may not be given, and a great deal of sleep is insisted on. Regular hours are set aside for rest, which nothing else must interfere with. Booksand papers are generally' forbidden at -first, though the nurse usually reads out aloud for so many' hours a day, choosing light, amusing literature. After a time, a few days at latest, as a rule, the patient is allowed to get tip and go out into the garden or driving, and later on to see friends. But as a rule home letters are forbidden entirely for a time, and no relations allowed to see the pa-

tient till she is sent home again. The friends who are allowed to come and call must be only casual ones, and are warned not to touch on any home worries or anything likely to excite. After a time a few home letters that are bald of facts are allowed to be received; but these are generally opened first by the doctor or nurse to see that there is nothing upsetting in them, as some halfforgotten home ■worry, if lamented over, very often docs a great deal of harm, and is apt to undo all the good that has been already effected. At the end of a few weeks, or longer, if the case is a bad one, the patient is allowed to return homd, wonderfully better, and often entirely cured. A little travelling is frequently advised before returning home. And, above all things, fresh air is insisted on from the beginning of the cure until the end. Of course, though this cure is a capital one and one that does so much good, it is not always possible for every over-tired, over-excited woman to go in for. She may not be able to leave home even for a few weeks, and yetshe may be as much in need of a rest cure as those who have leisure and money to carry it out to its close. In this case, a vast amount of good may be had if a few simple rules are laid down and followed at home. In the first place, you must make up your mind to a little self-denial, or there will be no use in trying to get better. You must give up half your engagements, only go out once or twice a week in the evenings, if at all, and take life in a quiet, rational way, not as though you were living to catch up lost time and illsucceding in doing it. You should see that your bedroom is well aired, quiet and dark, you should sleep late. Dress quietly alter a tepid bath in which a few drops of benzoin have been dropped, then take a light breakfast. Lunch should be plain and simple, and a glass of light wine ma}’ be laken. After lunch a rest of one or two hours must be taken. Dinner should be light. After dinner there should be no work of any kind done, a little music, a light novel, or pleasant conversation, should fill up the time till bedtime, which must be at an early hour, A cup of warm milk can be taken before you go to bed. You should read or talk of nothing exciting just before your bedtime. The great thing to be avoided is eating when overtired, sleeping when over-excited, or going about when you should be resting at home, Even a nap during the day, and early hours at night and late ones in the morning, will work wonders where women are too busy to go in for any special course of treatment.