all day, and his mind is perforce distracted from his
woes, and, though he retails them at night to the home circle, they get so
used to them as to disregard them, proffering a few words of agreement,
sympathy or scorn quite automatically.

With women the distraction of work is not so complete, for housework can be
neglected, there are always neighbours and friends to listen to tales of
woe and thus generate a very harmful self-pity, and women are not content
to enumerate their woes, but demand the attention and sympathy of all
listeners.

Many of the facts in the foregoing parts of this chapter apply with equal
force to both sexes, but women being usually more patient, tactful,
resigned and self-sacrificing than men, can--and often do--alleviate the
lot of the male neuropath; whereas the absence of these qualities in the
average man means that he aggravates, instead of alleviating, the lot of
any female neuropath to whom he may be wedded.

Having taken her "for better, for worse" he will find her irritating,
unreasonable, and unfitted to shoulder domestic responsibilities. Her likes
and dislikes, fickle fancies, unreasonable prejudices, selfish ways will
cause trouble; he must be prepared for misunderstandings and feuds with
relatives and friends, and on reaching home tired and worried, he is like
to find his house in disorder, be assailed by a tale of woe, and perhaps
find that his wife's vagaries have involved him in a tiff with neighbours.

She will be fretful, exacting, impatient, and given to ready tears.
Sensitive to the last degree, she will see slights where none are intended,
and a chiding word, a reproachful look, or a weary sigh will mean a fit of
temper or depression.

Not only are men less gifted for "managing" women than vice versa, but
women are far less susceptible to tactful management than men; a man, like
a dog, can be led almost anywhere with a little dragging at the chain and
growling now and then; a woman, like a cat, is more likely to spit, swear,
and scratch than come along.

Consequently, it is almost impossible to suggest means of obtaining relief
to one who has been luckless enough to marry, or be married by, a
neuropathic woman.

If the husband sympathize, the condition will but be aggravated; medicinal
measures will only increase, instead of diminishing, the number of
symptoms; indifference will procure such an exhibition as will both prove
its uselessness and ensure the attention cr