rld. It is
work above all else that saves us from the disasters of conflicting
thought.

A few years ago a young man came to me, suffering from too much
thinking. He had just been graduated from college and his head was full
of confused ideas and emotions. He was also very tired, having
overworked in his preparation for examinations, and because he had not
taken the best care of his body. The symptoms he complained of were
sleeplessness and worry, together with the inevitable indigestion and
headache. Of course, as a physician, I went over the bodily functions
carefully, and studied, as far as I might, into the organic conditions.
I could find no evidence of physical disease. I did not say, "There is
nothing the matter with you"; for the man was sick. I told him that he
was tired, that he had thought too much, that he was too much concerned
about himself, and that as a result of all this his bodily functions
were temporarily upset. He thought he ought to worry about himself,
because otherwise he would not be trying to get well. I explained to him
that this mistaken obligation was the common reason for worry, and that
in this case, at least, it was quite unnecessary and even harmful for
him to go on thinking about himself. That helped a little, but not
nearly enough, because when a man has overworked, when he has begun to
worry, and when his various bodily functions show results of worry, no
reasoning, no explanations, can wholly relieve him. I said to this young
man, "In spite of your discomforts, in spite of your depression and
concern in regard to yourself, you will get well if you will stop
thinking about the matter altogether. You must be first convinced that
it is best for you to stop thinking, that no harm or violence can
result, and then you must be helped in this direction by going to work
with your hands--that will be life and progress, it will lead you to
health."

Fortunately I had had some experience with nervous illness, and I knew
that unless I managed for this man the character and extent of his work,
he would not only fail in it, but of its object, and so become more
confused and discouraged. I knew the troubled mind, in this instance,
might find its solace and its relief in work, but that I must choose the
work carefully to suit the individual, and I must see that the nervously
fatigued body was not pushed too hard.

In the town where I live is a blacksmith shop, presided over by a genial
old man wh