OVERWORK OF THE BRAIN.
_Forfar, 10th June 1854. SIR—On the 27th ultimo I addressed a letter to you on the subject of the malady called "overwork of the brain." That letter was necessarily in- complete. Will you permit me to append a few remarks to it? In the communication referred to, I ought to have pointed out—first, what are the causes of the disease; secondly, what are its symptoms; and thirdly, what are the remedies which ought to be applied towards procuring the recovery of the sufferer. First. Its causes are too much literary, political, or legal labour; too much mercantile, pecuniary, or other anxiety of mind. Secondly. Its symptoms, as regards the sufferer himself, are tortures of the i most excruciating nature, n head, eyes, face, and brain as well as through- out the system generally, frequently accompanied by what can only be de-
scribed as a mental agony, such as a man may be supposed to experience who has committed murder or some other fearful crime ; while as respects relatives and friends, and other observers, they evince themselves in the patient's betraying the greatest extent of nervous restlessness and excite- ment, together with an utter incapability of settlement of body or of mind by night or by day for any beneficial purpose whatever. It is thus that re- latives and friends often see a usually mild and tranquil man, suddenly, and apparently without cause, transformed into a plague and a terror to all around him. Thirdly. The remedies for this appalling malady are to be found in the patient's being instantaneously removed from the exciting causes of his dis-
order, whether these be of a literary, political, mercantile, or other kiud ; in his being placed in a state of perfect mental repose ; in his being moved about from place to place, for the combined purpose of exercise, recreation, and change of scene; in his having the advantage of sea or other bathing ;
in his being never left alone, but, on the contrary, being planted within the sphere of pleasant society ; and, above all, in his receiving the lend and affec- tionate care and attention of those who are more immedia..ely connected with him by the ties of nature and affinity. In the end, such a course of treatment as is here described will almost unfailingly work his cure, and eventually render the brain again tit for moderate exertion. Of overwork of the brain Lord Clive died—of overwork of the brain Pitt and Castlereagh died—of overwork of the brain Theodore Hook, and Dr.
Idaginn' and poor Hood died; and of overwork of the brain many others will continue to die, so long as the disease is so little in its first symptoms recognized and attended to by the relatives and friends of those who have the misfortune to suffer from it, as it is in the present day. What are the varied forms of death, whether in the shape of paralysis, apoplexy, or melancholy suicide, but, in most eases, the result of overwork of the brain?
I am, Sir, your obedient servant, Joas Mensmt.
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