Chapter XXVII: Summary

To sum up: we have learnt that Epilepsy is a very ancient disease due to some instability of the brain, in which convulsions are a common but not invariable symptom.

Its actual cause is unknown. Heredity plays a big part, but there are secondary causes beside factors which excite attacks.

Various methods and drugs to prevent seizures have a limited use.

First-aid treatment consists solely in preventing the victim sustaining any injury.

Neurasthenia is a disease due to nerve-exhaustion and poisoning from overwork and worry. Its symptoms are many, but fatigue and irritability are the chief.

Hysteria is an obstinate, functional, nervous disease in which the patient acts in an abnormal manner, which is highly provoking to other individuals.

The cure for hysteria and neurasthenia is solely hygienic, and depends mainly on the patient.

The first step towards health consists in getting any slight organic defects remedied.

Digestion is often poorly performed.

This must be remedied by thorough mastication and rational dieting.

Constipation is very inimical to neuropaths, and must be remedied.

Patients must pay careful attention to general hygiene.

Insomnia is exhausting and must be conquered.

The effects of imagination are profound.

Suggestion treatment overcomes imaginary ills.

Drug treatment is either of very limited utility, or frankly useless.

Patent medicines are never of the slightest use.

The rational training of neuropathic children is a very difficult but essential task.

Puberty and adolescence are very critical times.

Occupations and recreations must be wisely chosen.

Heredity is the primary cause of these diseases. As it cannot be treated, sufferers must not have children.

Character is abnormal in nervous disease.

Marriage is very undesirable.

As a parting injunction, whether you are an epileptic or a neurasthenic, or a friend, relative, or attendant of such a one:

"GO THOU SOFTLY ALL THY DAYS!"

* * * * *

BIBLIOGRAPHY

"Oh! for a booke and a shadie nooke,
Eyther indoore or oute;
Where I maie reade, all atte my ease
Both of the newe and olde:
For a jollie goode booke, whereonne to looke
Is better to me than golde!"

The following books are suitable for laymen, and are most of them very readable.

EPILEPSY

We know of no book suitable for laymen,

NEURASTHENIA AND HYSTERIA

"Nervous Disorders of Men" (Kegan Paul) Hollander.

"Nervous Disorders of Women" (Kegan Paul) Hollander.

"National Degeneration" (Cornish, Birmingham) D.F. Harris.

"Hysteria and Neurasthenia" J.M. Clarke.

"The Management of a Nerve Patient" Schofield.

"Confessions of a Neurasthenic" (F.A. Davis Co., Philadelphia) Marrs.

"Conquest of Nerves" (Macmillan) Courtney.

GENERAL:

INDIGESTION

"Indigestion" Herschell.

DIETING

"Dietetics" (Jack's People's Books) A. Bryce.

"Diet in Dyspepsia" Tibbles.

"Cookery for Common Ailments" Brown.

CONSTIPATION

"Constipation" Bigg.

HYGIENE

"Laws of Life and Health" A. Bryce.

"Health" M.M. Burgess.

INSOMNIA

"Sleep and Sleeplessness" H.A. Bruce.

"The Meaning of Dreams" I.H. Coriat.

IMAGINATION

"Psychology in Daily Life" Seashore.

"Hygiene of the Mind" T.S. Clouston.

SUGGESTION

"Hypnotism and Suggestion" Hollander.

"How to Treat by Suggestion" Ash.

"Hypnotism and Self-Education" (Jack's People's Books) Hutchinson.

PATENT MEDICINES

"Patent Foods and Patent Medicines" (Bale & Davidson) Hutchinson.

See Chapter XX for B.M.A. Books.

THE CHILD

"Our Baby" R.D. Clark.

"Abnormal Children" (Kegan Paul) Hollander.

"The Baby" (Jack's People's Books) Anonymous.

"Training the Child" (Jack's People's Books) Spiller.

PUBERTY

"Youth and Sex" (Jack's People's Books) Scharlieb and Sibley.

"Woman in Childhood, Wifehood, and Motherhood" M.S. Cohen.

"The Adolescent Period" Starr.

"Physiology" (Home Univ. Library) McKendrick.

"Human Physiology" Leonard Hill.

HEREDITY AND CHARACTER

"Evolution" (Home Univ. Library) Thomson and Geddes.

"Heredity in the Light of Recent Research" (Cam. Univ. Press) Doncaster.

"The Psychology of Insanity" (Cam. Univ. Press) Bernard Hart.

MARRIAGE

"On Conjugal Happiness" R.G.S. Krohn

"Race Culture and Race Suicide" R.R. Rentoul.

* * * * *

INDEX

ABORTIVES, Use of, as cause of epilepsy, 22
Age-incidence in epilepsy, 17, 18
Air, Fresh, Importance of, 73
Alcohol, The question of, 64
Alcoholic excess in relation to epilepsy, 16, 21-23
---- ---- neurasthenia, 31
Amyl Nitrite, to check the aura in epilepsy, 26
Analyses of proprietary preparations for children, 13
---- ---- purgative medicines, 62
---- of secret remedies, British Medical Association, 13, 62, 92
Arson as manifestation of mental epilepsy, 10
Aspirin for post-epileptic headache, 29
Aura, The, 2, 3, 25
----, ----, in Jacksonian epilepsy, 8
----, Treatment of the, 25, 26
Auto-intoxication, 68
Auto-suggestion, Value of, 80, 83

BACKACHE in neurasthenia, 32
Baths, Advice as to, for neuropaths, 48, 73, 74
Blaud's pills, 95
Brain, Morbid changes in, associated with epilepsy, 18, 19
----, Structure of the, 20
Bromides, Action of, hindered by salt, 65
---- in the prevention of epilepsy, 26
---- ---- treatment of epilepsy, 86-88, 92
---- the basis of every epilepsy cure, 92
Bromism, 87
Brooding, harmful to neuropaths, 49, 50

CALM necessary in dealing with nervous children, 106
Carlyle, 90
Character, 123-30
----, The basis of, 124
Chyle, The, 57
Chyme, The, 56
Circulation, The, in neuropaths, 73
Circulatory Disturbances in neurasthenia, 33
Clark on frequency of fits during repose, 23
Clark's statistics of epilepsy, 15
Cleanliness, 73
Climacteric, in relation to hysteria, 41
Clothing for neuropaths, 74
Coddling, Danger of, for nervous children, 103
"Complex", The, in consciousness, 10, 11
Concentration, Lack of, in neurasthenia, 34
----, Mental, Exercises in, 51
Confession, The value of, 40
Conscious Mind, The, 10, 39
Consciousness, Alteration of, in epileptic attack, 3, 4, 6
----, Dissociation of, 11
Constipation, 67-70
----, Causes of, 67, 68
----, Symptoms of, 68
----, Treatment of, 68-70
Convulsions, Epileptic. _See_ "Fit"
---- in alcoholism, 23
---- in children, 13
---- in diabetes, 23
---- in pregnancy, 14
Cooking in relation to digestibility, 58
Country resorts suitable for neuropaths, 47
Criminal acts in psychic or mental epilepsy, 9, 10
Culpepper's Herbal, 86

DARK, Nervous children's fear of the, 105
Day-dreaming, 11, 108
Death, 58
Degeneration, Signs of, in epileptics, 17
Dementia, Epileptic, 16
Demonic Influence in relation to epilepsy, 1, 2
Dieting, 63-66
Digestion of foods, 58, 59
---- ----, Time occupied by the, 58
----, The process of, 56-59
Digestive troubles in relation to epilepsy, 22, 26
---- ----, neurasthenia, 32, 33
Discipline of the nervous child, 103-106
Dissociation of consciousness, 11
Dostoieffsky's "The Idiot", a study of epilepsy, 130
Douche, The cold, for neuropaths, 74
Dreams, 12
----, Sex-basis in, 12
Drug habit, The, in neuropaths, 93
Duties and trials of a neuropath's wife, 132-137

EARS, Care of the, 53
Egoism in relation to neurasthenia, 38
Electrical treatment for neuropaths, 50
Emotional repression as a factor in hysteria, 40
Enema, The use of the, 69
Energy from food, 58
Epilepsy a functional disease, 2
----, Ancient remedies for, 86
---- as a mental complex, 23
---- ascribed to demonic influence, 1, 2
----, Biblical reference to, 2
----, Causes of, 20-24
----, Clinical course of, 15-19
----, Cure in, 19
----, Definition of, 1, 19
----, Effect of, on general health, 16
----, Feigned, 14
----, ----, Diagnosis of, 14
----, Historical account of, 1, 2
---- in mediaeval times, 2
---- in neurasthenics, 35
---- in relation to genius, 125-127
---- ---- marriage, 131
----, Jacksonian, 7-9
----, ----, its relative frequency, 15
----, Major and minor, 1-6
----, Medicines for, 86-89
----, Mental, 9, 10
----, ----, Rarity of, 15
----, Nocturnal, 4, 5
----, ----, its relative frequency, 15
----, Preventive treatment of, 25-27
----, Prognosis in, 19
----, Psychic, 9, 10
----, Rarer types of, 7-16
----, Serial, 7
----, Superstitions attached to, 1, 2
Epileptic children, Care of, 16
---- dementia, 16
---- fit _See_ "Fit"
---- fits, Times of occurrence of, 15, 23
Epileptiform seizures, 13
Exercise for neuropaths, 48, 74, 75
Eyes, Care of the, 53

FACIAL expression in epilepsy, 17
Fats, Digestion of, 57
Fears, Baseless, in neurasthenia, 35, 36
Feeding, Generous, needed for neuropaths, 47
Fit, Epileptic, Description of an, 3, 4
----, ----, Mechanism of an, 20, 21
----, ----, First-aid to victims of, 28, 29
Flatulence, Treatment of, 70
Foods, Proprietary, 94, 95
"Free will", The fallacy of, 124, 125
Freud on perverted sex-ideas as a cause of hysteria, 40
---- ---- subconscious sexual desires in infants, 113
---- ---- the sex-basis in dreams, 12
Fright as cause of epilepsy, 21

GASTRIC Juice, The, 56
Genius, Epilepsy in relation to, 125-127
"Germ-plasm", The, 118
---- in relation to neuropathic tendencies, 120, 121, 124
_Globus hystericus_, 42
Glycerin suppositories, 69
Glycerophosphates, 96
"Good" and "Evil", 123, 124
Gowers on epilepsy, 7
Gowers' statistics as to age-incidence of epilepsy, 17
_Grand mal_, 2-5
---- ----, its relative frequency, 15
Greene on hysteria, 44

HABIT, Importance of, in relation to constipation, 68
Haig on relation of uric acid to epilepsy, 23
Headache in neurasthenia, 32
Heredity, 118-122
Hobbies for neuropaths, 48
Hormone, The Function of a, 57
Hughlings Jackson, Dr, on the epileptic convulsion, 8
Husband of a neuropath, Advice to the, 138, 139
Huxley on the rules of the game of life, 46
Hygiene, General, 71-75
Hypochondriasis in neurasthenics, 36
Hypophosphites, 96
Hysteria, 39-45
----, Age incidence of, 41
----, Ancient views as to, 39
---- and neurasthenia contrasted, 41
---- Causes of, 40, 41
----, Modern theories as to, 39
----, Race incidence of, 42
----, Sex-incidence of, 39, 41
----, Symptoms of, 42-44
----, Treatment of, 44
Hysterical attack, The, 42, 43

IMAGINATION, Effects of, 79-81
Indigestion, 60-62
Infantile convulsions, 13
---- ----, relation of to epilepsy, 13
---- ----, Treatment of, 13
Inhibitory cells of brain, 20, 21
Injuries to brain as cause of epilepsy, 21
Insanity in relation to dissociation of consciousness, 11
---- ---- epilepsy, 16
Insomnia _See_ "Sleeplessness"
Intestinal worms, 102
Iron preparations, 95

JACKSONIAN epilepsy, 7, 8, 9
Janet on consciousness in hysteria, 40
Jones on the religious sentiment in neuropaths, 106, 107

KING'S evil, The, 86

LA ROCHEFOUCAULD on health and regimen, 65
Lecithin, 96
Lieberkuhn's glands, 57, 58
Life, in relation to tissue change, 58
Locock's introduction of bromides for epilepsy, 86

MACHINE, The human, 71, 72
Malt extracts, 93
Marriage, 131-139
---- and neuropathy, 122, 131, 132
---- of neuropaths should be childless, 134, 135
Mastication, Importance of thorough, 61
Masturbation, 110-112
----, Effects of, 111, 112
---- in relation to epilepsy, 16, 22, 114
---- ---- neurasthenia, 38
Meals, Number and time of, 64
Meat extracts, 93
---- juices, Value of, 64
----, Moderation in its use necessary, 65
Memory in epilepsy, 17
----, its subconscious basis, 10
Mendel's law of inheritance, 120, 121
Menopause in relation to neurasthenia, 31
Menstruation, Disordered, in neurasthenia, 33
---- in relation to epilepsy, 17, 22
Mental attitude of neurasthenics, 33-38
---- fatigue in neurasthenia, 33, 34
Mercier on the characteristics of the neuropath, 128-130
Mind in relation to consciousness, 10
Moral cowardice in relation to neurasthenia, 38
_Morbus comitialis_, 2
Motor cells of brain, 20, 21
Murder as manifestation of mental epilepsy, 10

NARCOTICS, Use and abuse of, 78
Nervous child, Training of the, 98-108
---- dyspepsia, 60
---- ----, Diet in, 65
Neurasthenia, 30-38
---- and hysteria contrasted, 41
----, Causes of, 31, 32, 41
----, Course and outlook in, 38, 41
---- in relation to epilepsy, 35
---- ---- self abuse, 16, 38
----, Sexual, 38
----, Symptoms of, 32-38, 41
Neuropath, The, his need of a wife, 132
Neuropathic children, Characteristics of, 98, 99
---- ----, Diet of, 100-102
---- ----, Education of 99, 100
---- ----, Moral training of, 102-106
Neuropaths, Advice to, 46-52
----, Mental characteristics of, 126-130
Neuropathy in relation to marriage, 122, 131-139
----, The only way to eradicate, 121
Night terrors, 105
Nitroglycerine to check the epileptic aura, 25, 26
Nose, Care of the, 54

OPISTHOTONOS, 43
Optimism, Value of, 80
Osler on age-incidence of epilepsy, 18
---- ---- the use of medicines, 93

PALPITATION during use of bromides, 87
---- in neurasthenia, 33
Parentage in relation to inherited qualities, 119, 120
Patent medicines, 90-97
---- ---- and the dyspeptic, 60, 62
---- ---- ---- ---- neurasthenic, 36
---- ----, explanation of their benefit, 80
Pepsin, 94
_Petit mal_, 5, 6
---- ---- in childhood, 16
---- ----, its relative frequency 15
Phenalgin for post-epileptic headache, 29
Phosphorus preparations, 96
Piles, 70
Port wine in proprietary preparations, 93
Predigested foods, 94, 95
Pregnancy, Convulsions during, 14
---- in relation to epilepsy, 17, 22
Psycho-analysis in the treatment of hysteria, 40
Puberty, Bodily changes at, 109
----, Dangers at and after, 109-114
---- in relation to epilepsy, 16, 18, 114
Punishment, Corporal, unsuited for nervous children, 105, 106
Pupils in epilepsy, The, 17
Purgatives, The abuse of, 69
----, Suitable, 70

QUACK Advertisements, 91, 111

READING for neuropaths, 48
Recovery in epilepsy, 19
Recreations for neuropaths, 117
Reid on the effect of emotions on bodily functions, 81
Religion, Question of, in nervous children, 106-108
Rest for neuropaths, 49, 50
Responsibility in relation to mental epilepsy, 9, 10

SANATOGEN, 96
Savill on differences between neurasthenia and hysteria, 41
Self-abuse _See_ "Masturbation"
Self control, how far possible to neuropaths, 123-125
Self-restraint, The neuropath's lack of, 129, 130
Sentimentality to be discouraged in nervous children, 104
Sex education, The need for, 131
Sex-incidence in epilepsy, 18
Sex instruction for children, 110, 112
Sexual development early in neuropaths, 113, 114
---- excesses in relation to epilepsy, 16, 23
---- ---- in relation to neurasthenia, 31, 38
---- instinct, Awakening of, 109, 110
---- neurasthenia, 38
---- offences as manifestations of mental epilepsy, 9, 10
---- rules for neuropaths, 48
Shaw, Bernard, his sneer at marriage, 131
Sleep, Relation of, to epileptic fit, 4
Sleeplessness, 76-78
----, Causes of, 76, 77
----, Treatment of, 77, 78, 85
---- in neurasthenia, 33
Sollmann on proprietary foods, 94, 96
Soothing syrups, 13
"Sound nerves", 52
Spirit writing, 11, 12
Spiritualism, Danger of, for neuropaths, 107
Spratling on epilepsy in consumptives, 17
Starr's statistics as to age-incidence in epilepsy, 17
---- ---- heredity in epileptics, 121
---- ---- types of epilepsy, 15
_Status epilepticus_, 7
---- ----, as final termination of epilepsy, 16
Subconscious mind, The, 10
Suggestion treatment, 82-85
Suicide in neurasthenics and hysterical subjects, 35, 41, 42
Sunstroke as cause of fits, 21
Sweetmeats, The use of, 64
Sympathy, Harm done by, in hysteria, 44, 45

TAPE worms, 102
Tea and coffee, 64
Teeth, Care of the, 54, 55
Tobacco undesirable for neuropaths, 74
Trades for epileptics, 116
---- ---- neuropaths, 115-117
Turner on age-incidence of epilepsy, 18

UNCONSCIOUS activities, 39, 40
Unconsciousness in epilepsy, 3-5
Urine, Incontinence of, in epilepsy, 3-5

VEGETABLE Foods, 64
Villi, The intestinal, 57
Vittoz's exercises in mental concentration, 51
Vomiting, Risk of, in epilepsy, 26

WATER, When to drink, 61, 64, 68
Weir Mitchell Treatment, 50
Wife for the neuropath, The, 132-135
---- of a neuropath, Advice to the, 132-137
Will, Neuropath's lacking in, 125
Work and play, 115-117
Worms, Intestinal, 102
Worry as cause of neurasthenia, 31
---- to be avoided by neuropaths, 47, 49

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