Fatigue of the brain is a common complaint in these days of competition, worry, and excitement. But it is less often the actual fatigue of the brain that is at fault, than the measures that are taken to prevent it. The brain will stand a great deal of fatigue and worry without resenting it in any other way than by refusing to do more than a certain amount of work, and compelling the patient to take the natural remedy-sleep. But if the patient endeavours to calm his brain by smoking, or to drown his worries in alcohol, or get more work out of his brain by taking tea or coffee to keep himself awake, then, of course, he must pay the price. He soon finds, if he will not sleep when he can that he can no longer sleep when he would. He next appeals to opiates, or other hypnotics, and very soon he can get no sleep without them. A nervous, irritable state is the result, and inability to get any work out of the brain at all. A forced rest of three months is the means now generally prescribed by the physician.
General Treatment.-The patient must be warned against the danger of relying on artificial substitutes for rest and sleep, and, if he lacks the necessary amount of self-control, the best thing he can do is to go to some hydropathic institution, where the regimen is strict and the society and surroundings cheerful, and stay there until he has got himself into better habits.
He must remember that the treatment is not to be abandoned on his leaving the institution, but that he must carry out the same rules of living, as far as possible, on returning to active life. In very bad cases it may be necessary to send the patient to travel abroad. When there are addition to nervous symptoms great wasting and inability to take food, the “Weir Mitchell” treatment of combined massage and feeding is the best.
Medicines.-(To be given every two or three hours.)
Phosphorus 3.-
Nervous prostration.
Nux. vom.3.-
Where reliance has been placed on tobacco or alcohol.
Ignat.3.-
Nervousness or sleeplessness.
Aconit. 3.-
Feverish restlessness, sleepless tossing about at night.
