s rest.--Both mental and physical diversions, nutritious
though easily digested food, and removal of baneful influences as far as
possible. Physical exercise for the lazy. Rest for the anemic and weak.
For business or professional men the treatment is to get away and far off,
if possible, from business. It will often be found best to make out a
daily programme for those that must remain at home, something to keep the
mind busy without tiring, and then times of rest. The patient, if it is
possible, should be away from home if home influences and surroundings are
not agreeable. Dr. S. Weir Mitchell, of Philadelphia, has devised and
elaborated a cure, called a rest cure, for the relief of this class of
patients, and it is wonderfully successful especially in thin people. "Be
the symptoms what they may, as long as they are dependent upon nerve
strain, this 'cure' is to be resorted to, and if properly carried out is
often attended with surprising results." "A bright, airy, easily cleaned,
and comfortable room, is to be selected, and adjoining it, if possible,
should be a smaller one for an attendant or nurse. The patient is put to
bed and kept there from three to six weeks, or longer as may be necessary,
and during this time is allowed to see no one except the nurse and doctor,
since the presence of friends requires conversation and mental effort. The
patient in severe cases must be fed by the nurse in order to avoid
expenditure of the force required in the movement of the arms. No sitting
up in bed is allowed and if any reading is done it must be done by the
nurse who can read aloud for an hour a day (I have seen cases where even
that could not be done). In the case of women, the hair should be dressed
by the nurse to avoid any physical effort on the part of the patient. To
take the place of ordinary exercise, two measures are employed, the first
of which is massage or rubbing; the second, electricity. By the kneading
and rubbing of the muscles and skin the liquids in the tissues are
absorbed and poured into the lymph spaces, and a healthy blush is brought
to the skin. This passive exercise is performed in the morning or
afternoon, and should last from one-half to an hour, every part of the
body being kneaded, even the face and scalp. In the afternoon or morning
the various muscles should be passively exercised by electricity, each
muscle being made to contact by the application of the poles of the
battery to its motor points,