Sexual neurasthenia (nervous exhaustion) : its hygiene, causes, symptoms and treatment with a chapter on diet for the nervous / by George M. Beard ; edited, with notes and additions, by A.D. Rockwell.

Date:
1884
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Sexual neurasthenia (nervous exhaustion) : its hygiene, causes, symptoms and treatment with a chapter on diet for the nervous / by George M. Beard ; edited, with notes and additions, by A.D. Rockwell. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    The National Druggist, St. Louis, says:—Tliis form of nervous exbaus- tion Drt. Beard calls sexual neurastlienia. It is of its phenomena in the male that, tlie present vuluine treats more espeeially, though its exhibition in the female (in the shape of ovai iaii and womb troubles) are touched upon. Sperm- atorrhea, irritable prostate, impotence, etc., hitlierto regarded and described as separate diseases, here are held to be but so many symptoms of one disease —neurasthenia. Wliile the work was manifestly written for the use of physicians, and more especially directed to the medical profession, like everything coming from the proline pen of the laiuented author, it is couched in language so plain and free from technicalities that it may be read with profit, (if not pleasure) by any thinking man. We regret, for the sake of the multitude of our countrymen, whom a perusal of the volume might save from years of agonv, that the same principle had not been followed in choosing a title. To the great mass of men who might be benefited by reading the book (and who would read it if they only knew its character), the title '•Neurasthenia not only conveys no meaning, but by its appearance of erudition frightens them off. Of what inestimable benefit it might be to the thousands of sufferers from early indiscretion, who are daily and nightly undergoing mental tortures, compared to which the keen- est ]ihysical agony woidd be pleasure. To these men the only literature bearing' upon their condition which is accessible is of the vilest description, calculated not to allay their fears and lead them aright, but to frighten them, into the dens of quackery and thieves. The New York Phrenological Journal says :—In the discussion of neu- rological topics Dr. Beard was a leader, and probably contributed more than any other man connected with the practice oC meilicine in America to the dis- closure of the causes of nervous debility and to the analysis of its different pha--es. The physician will find in this work a thoroughly practical treatise on the Bub.iect, and comprehensive in its detail of causes, symptoms, physiologj', and treatment. It points a moral with regard to the extensive prevalence of nerv- ousness among American people of the better class that should make the lay reader blush with shame ; while ignorance of duty and propriety in sexual matters may be urged as an excuse for enfeebled organisms. Excellent sug- gestions are given on the diet suitable to such cases. The Quarterly Journal of Ine'Driety, Hartford, Conn., says:-Dii. Beard was a very acute and suggestive writer, and the presentation of this subject is among his best efforts. This volume will have a large circle of readers, and will give great pleasure and profit to all. We commend it as a most valuable work, and a new and practical topic which comes to the attention of every one. The Denver Medical Times says:—Dr. Beard is to be commended for the good be has been instrumental in accomplishing in directing attention to this important subject. The generative function plays a verj' imijortant part in our economy ; and this retlex phenomena has attracted considerable attention of late and deserves all the.light which modern science can throw upon it. Dr. Heard has given us a volume from which every conscientious practitioner can derive food for consideration and application. The New York Medical Tribune says:—The author -was not only an in- structive writer, but posspRced the happy faculty of making his subject interest- ing ; and he was particularly qualified, b.v rea.son of his careful and thorough investigations of the phenomena of the nervous system, to write the book under consideration The book will not only be a valuable aid to the medical man in determining the signification of the train of symptoms exhibited in nervous dis- orders, but will furnish him with many useful suggestions as to the mode of treating .such conditions. The Physio-Medical Journal, Indianapolis, Ind., says:-Itis something entirelj' out of the ordinary, and he who reads it will not all the time feel like be was reading a re-hash of some old work that he had read a dozen times be- fciio from as many different authors. It is original, new, good, and has more ill its 270 pages to the stjuare inch than anything that you can buy for $2. The California Homeopath) San Francisco, says:-Tho hook is full of valuable suggestions and avIII repay study. One of the most interesting chap- ters in the book is that on Diet for the Nervous. The Indiana Pharmacist, Indianapolis, Ind., says:—It will well repay perusal by auy one at all interested in the subject.