Cramps are often prevented or cured by compression. Thus cramps in the legs are prevented, and sometimes removed, by tight bandages; and when convulsions arise from a flatulent distention of the intestines, or from spasms beginning in them, they may be often lessened or cured by making a pretty strong compression upon the abdomen by means of a broad belt. A roll of brimstone held in the hand is frequently used as a remedy for cramps. Though this seems to owe its effect chiefly to imagination; yet, as it sometimes succeeds, it merits a trial[[153]]. When spasms or convulsive motions arise from sharp humours in the stomach and intestines, no lasting relief can be procured till these are either corrected or expelled. The Peruvian bark has sometimes cured periodic convulsions after other medicines had failed.
OF HYPOCHONDRIAC AFFECTIONS.
This disease generally attacks the indolent, the luxurious, the unfortunate, and the studious. It becomes daily more common in this country, owing, no doubt, to the increase of luxury and sedentary employments. It has so near a resemblance to the immediately preceding, that many authors consider them as the same disease, and treat them accordingly. They require however a very different regimen; and the symptoms of the latter, though less violent, are more permanent than those of the former.
Men of a melancholy temperament, whose minds are capable of great attention, and whose passions are not easily moved, are, in the advanced periods of life, most liable to this disease. It is usually brought on by long and serious attention to abstruse subjects, grief, the suppression of customary evacuations, excess of venery, the repulsion of cutaneous eruptions, long-continued evacuations, obstructions in some of the viscera, as the liver, spleen, &c.
Hypochondriac persons ought never to fast long, and their food should be solid and nourishing. All acescent and windy vegetables are to be avoided. Flesh-meats agree best with them, and their drink should be old claret, or good madeira. Should these disagree with the stomach, water with a little brandy or rum in it may be drank.
Cheerfulness and serenity of mind are by all means to be cultivated. Exercise of every kind is useful. The cold bath is likewise beneficial; and, where it does not agree with the patient, frictions with the flesh-brush or a coarse cloth may be tried. If the patient has it in his power, he ought to travel either by sea or land. A voyage or a long journey, especially towards a warmer climate, will be of more service than any medicine.
The general intentions of cure, in this disease, are to strengthen the alimentary canal, and to promote the secretions. These intentions will be best answered by the different preparations of iron and the Peruvian bark, which, after proper evacuations, may be taken in the same manner as directed in the preceding disease.
If the patient be costive, it will be necessary to make use of some gentle opening medicine, as pills composed of equal parts of aloes, rhubarb, and asafœtida, with as much of the elixir proprietatis as is necessary to form the ingredients into pills. Two, three, or four of these may be taken as often as it shall be found needful, to keep the body gently open. Such as cannot bear the asafœtida may substitute Spanish soap in its place.
Though a cheerful glass may have good effects in this disease, yet all manner of excess is hurtful. Intense study, and every thing that depresses the spirits, are likewise pernicious.
Though the general symptoms and treatment of nervous disorders were pointed out in the beginning of this chapter; yet, for the benefit of the unhappy persons afflicted with those obstinate and complicated maladies, I have treated several of their capital symptoms under distinct or separate heads. These however are not to be considered as different diseases, but as various modifications of the same disease. They all arise from the same general causes, and require nearly the same method of treatment. There are many other symptoms that merit particular attention, which the nature of my plan will not permit me to treat of at full length. I shall therefore omit them altogether, and conclude this chapter with a few general remarks on the most obvious means of preventing or avoiding nervous disorders.