Chapter I: Front Matter

Transcriber’s Note

In this text version of “Nervous Breakdowns and How to Avoid Them” words in italics are marked with _underscores_.

Sidenotes have been moved to the start of the paragraph to which they refer. All sidenotes were originally printed in bold.

Inconsistent hyphenation and irregular grammar are retained. Minor changes to punctuation have been made without comment. Other changes are listed at the end of the book.

NERVOUS BREAKDOWNS

AND HOW TO AVOID THEM

_All rights reserved_

Nervous Breakdowns and
How to Avoid Them

BY

CHARLES D. MUSGROVE
M.D.

NEW YORK
FUNK AND WAGNALLS COMPANY

1913

BRISTOL, ENG.: J. W. ARROWSMITH LTD., QUAY STREET.

CONTENTS.

_Page_
CHAPTER I.

BREAKDOWNS 1

The shock. The kind of person most liable.
The nature of breakdowns. Neurasthenia, the
two types.

CHAPTER II.

THE DANGER SIGNAL 9

The signs of a breakdown. Each individual
his or her own standard. Breakdowns
preventable.

CHAPTER III.

HEALTH 19

Health, not illness, the standard. What
health is. The motor-car. The human
machinery. Interplay between the various
parts. Combustion--Ashes or waste matter,
and how got rid of. The nervous ramifications.
Starvation and poisoning. Compensation.
Cause of breakdown. The remedy.

CHAPTER IV.

THE VALUE OF HEALTH 31

Happiness. Efficiency of work.

CHAPTER V.

REWARDS AND PENALTIES 38

The health seeker. The reward of care.
The inevitable penalty. Nature’s disregard of
motives. The laws of health. Food, fresh air,
exercise and rest.

CHAPTER VI.

THE HUMAN ENGINE, AND HOW TO STOKE IT 47

The locomotive stoker. The human furnace:
(1) The sort of food to take, (2) The amount
necessary, (3) How to take it, (4) When to
take it.

CHAPTER VII.

WHAT TO EAT 51

Differences of constitution. Likes and dislikes.
Good and bad cooking. Proteids or meat foods.
Meat and gout. Starchy foods. Bread. The
saliva. The slow poison of dyspepsia. Eggs.
Soups. Fat. Milk. Sour milk treatment.
Sauces. Hunger the best sauce. Tea. Coffee.
Alcohol.

CHAPTER VIII.

HOW TO EAT FOOD 67

Mastication. The importance of sound teeth.

CHAPTER IX.

HOW MUCH FOOD TO TAKE 73

Personal requirements. As a rule people eat
too much. Dangers of excess. Diet at middle
age. Diet for the obese.

CHAPTER X.

WHEN TO TAKE FOOD 80

Punctuality essential. Interval between
meals. The digestive troubles of a hundred
years ago and to-day.

CHAPTER XI.

FRESH AIR 86

The human furnace always alight. Fresh
air and the nervous system. Fresh air in the
home. The two-edged sword. Consumption.
Common colds. Sitting-rooms and bedrooms.
How to obtain fresh air without draughts.
Breathing through the nose. Breathing
exercises. Cleanliness. Tidiness.

CHAPTER XII.

EXERCISE 100

Overwork or want of exercise? Exercise at
middle age. Value of exercise. Regularity.
Violent exercise. Cramp. Outdoor games,
walking, cycling, etc. The pavement walk.
Starting indoor exercises. Cautions as to
dumb-bells, etc. Object of exercise. Swedish
drill. Imitation of games. Massage.

CHAPTER XIII.

BATHS AND BATHING 112

Hot baths. Temperature. Effect on various
ailments. How they act. Cold baths.
Outdoor bathing. Turkish baths.

CHAPTER XIV.

REST 121

The spirit of unrest. Modern life. Periodic
rest. What rest is. Recuperation. Power of
self-repair in the body. Bodily rest, and how
obtained. Rest of mind. Change is rest.

CHAPTER XV.

SLEEP 130

Beauty sleep. Ebb and flow in human
system. Remedies for sleeplessness.

CHAPTER XVI.

HOLIDAYS 137

The annual holiday. Where and how to go.
Continental trips. Preparations for a holiday.
Diet and exercise. The restful holiday. Tired
eyes. The return.

CHAPTER XVII.

RECREATION, HOBBIES 147

Games and hobbies. Hobbies and home
life. Hobbies in the prevention and treatment
of breakdowns. Choice of a hobby.

CHAPTER XVIII.

WORK 156

Necessity for it. Mental exercise. The cry
for young men. Conditions of work. _Before._
Bad effect of hurry. _During._ Hygiene. Noises.
Telephone. Bad light. Midday rest. Meals.
Nature of work. Working against time. Public
work. _After._ Exercise. Rest. Recreation.

CHAPTER XIX.

WORRY 169

Worry, not work, that kills. The effect on
the mind. Worry and neurasthenia. How to
avoid worry. The influence of the body on the
mind. Anticipation. Beset by work.
Stimulants. Overwork _versus_ worry. Hobbies
as a remedy.

CHAPTER XX.

THE STRONG MAN 182

What strength is. Find out the weak points.
Know your own temperament. Adjusting the
mind. The secret of preventing breakdowns.

Nervous Breakdowns and How to Avoid Them.