Epilepsy, Hysteria, and Neurasthenia Part 11

Many of us conform through life to the suggestions of others, affection, awe, hero-wors.h.i.+p and fear taking the place of reason.

The most resolute of men are influenced by tactful suggestions, which quietly "tip-toe" on to the margin of consciousness, awaken ideas which link up more and more a.s.sociations, until an avalanche is started which forces itself on to the field of consciousness, the subject thinking the idea is his own.

Author and actor try by suggestion to make us think, laugh, or weep at their will, books are sold by suggestive t.i.tles, and many clothes are worn only to suggest wealth or respectability.

The best salesman is he who by artful suggestion sells us what we do not want; the best buyer he who by equally astute suggestion makes the seller part at a price which makes him regret the bargain the moment it is closed.

Suggestion treatment is of great use in curing nervous states and bad habits, and all neuropaths should practice self- or auto-suggestion. In severe cases a specialist must give the treatment.

The patient is taken by the neurologist to a cosy, restfully-furnished, half-lighted room, and placed in a huge easy chair facing a cheery fire. He sinks into the depths of the chair, relaxes every muscle, allows his thoughts to wander pleasantly, and soon his brain is at rest, and his mind, undisturbed by the fears which usually hara.s.s it, is ready to receive suggestions.

The doctor talks quietly, soothingly, but with the conviction born of knowledge to the patient about his trouble, a.s.suring him that he _can_ control his cravings; that he _can_ put away the doubts or fears that have grown upon him. The true reason of his illness is pointed out, any little organic factors given due weight, and the idea that it is hereditary or due to Fate dispelled. Faults of character, reasoning and living are unsparingly exposed and appropriate remedies suggested, and he is shown how unmanly his self-torturing reproaches are, and how futile is remorse unless trans.m.u.ted into reform.

The doctor's earnestness inspires confidence, and the patient unburdens his secret troubles, discusses means of remedying them, and turns from pain to promise, from remorse to resolve, from introspection to action, from dreading to doing.

Struck by the way the psycho-a.n.a.lyst reads his soul and lays bare petty meannesses, impressed by the patient thoroughness with which the doctor attends to each little symptom, confident that organic troubles--if there be any--will receive appropriate treatment, ready to carry out instructions, and disposed to believe the new treatment is of real value: under all these circ.u.mstances, the physician's suggestions carry very great weight with the patient.

The resolutions pa.s.sed by the victim in this calm state sink deep into subconsciousness, and when next temptation, impulse or fear a.s.sails him, his own resolutions and the doctor's suggestions are so vividly recalled that he tries to control his thoughts, and, in due time he "wins out".

Anyone may induce the calm state, and repeat suitable suggestions. The patient should go to a quiet room, and, reclining on a comfortable couch before a cheery fire, close the eyes, relax the muscles, breathe deeply, and avoid all sense of strain.

The next step is to fix the imagination on some scene which suggests tranquility--smooth seas, autumnal landscapes, snow-clad heights, old-world gardens, deep, shady silent pools, childhood's lullabies, secluded backwaters, dim aisles of ancient churches.

After a few evenings' practice, you will be able gradually to exclude all other ideas, and focus on one, inducing a state which, somewhat similar outwardly, is free from the excitement of religious exaltation, and from the delusions of a medium's trance.

In this state, an appropriate suggestion must be made, sincerely, and with _absolute faith_ in its power. Christ's miracles were the result of suggestive therapeutics, and He took care to inspire relatives with faith, to exclude scoffers, to surround himself by his believing Apostles, and, after treatment, said: "See thou tell no man!" well knowing that suggestion cannot withstand derision.

In this way, a patient of limited means can do for himself exactly what more fortunate ones pay large fees to specialists to do for them. The treatment is uncommon, but sound, for the medical profession is perhaps the most conservative on earth, and when specialists of repute use a method, you may be confident it is of value.

To cure sleeplessness, see that stomach and brain are at rest, bed comfortable, and feet warm; calm yourself, and focus on the idea of sleep, saying:

"I shall go to sleep in a few minutes, and wake at eight o'clock in the morning."

Repeat this a few times, persist for a few nights and you will quickly get drowsy, and fall asleep.

Phrases for other requirements will readily occur, as:

"I shall feel confident in open s.p.a.ces!"

"I shall find no more pleasure in alcohol!" and so on.

Suggestion will not cure epilepsy, hysteria or neurasthenia, but it overcomes many of the symptoms which make the patient so wretched.

"Crutches are hung on the walls of miraculous grottos, but _never a wooden leg_."

Suggestion may move a paralysed arm, but the muscles only become healthy again in many days by slow repair; suggestion releases the catch, but the spring must be wound up by energy suitably applied.

CHAPTER XIX

MEDICINES

"Of simples in these groves that grow He'll learn the perfect skill; The nature of each herb, to know Which cures and which can kill."

--Dryden.

So distressing a malady as epilepsy early attracted attention, and every treatment superst.i.tion could devise, or science could suggest, has been tried. Culpepper in his "Herbal" (300 years old), recommends bryony; lunar caustic (nitrate of silver) was extensively used, because silver was the colour of the moon, which caused madness.

The royal touch for scrofula (King's Evil) was also extended to epilepsy, the king blessing a ring, which was worn by the sufferer.

Another old remedy was to cut off a lock of the victim's hair while in a seizure and put it in his hand, which stopped (?) the attack. In Berks.h.i.+re a piece of silver collected at the communion service and made into a ring was specific, but in Devon a ring made of three nails from an old coffin was preferred. Lupton says: "A piece of child's navel-string borne in a ring is good against falling sickness."

Nearly every drug in the Pharmacopoeia has been tried, the drugs now generally used being sodium, pota.s.sium and ammonium bromide.

Before bromides were introduced by Loc.o.c.k in 1857, very strict hygienic, dietic and personal disciplinary treatment combined with the use of drugs often effected improvement. Since the use of bromides, these personal habits have, unfortunately, been neglected, far too much reliance being placed on the "three times a day after meals" formula.

All bromides are quickly absorbed from the stomach and bowels, and enter the blood as sodium bromide, which lowers the activity of both motor and sensory centres, and renders the brain less sensitive to disturbing influences.

Unfortunately, the influence of bromides is variable, uncertain, and markedly good in only a small proportion of cases.

In about 25 per cent of cases, in which mild seizures occur at long periods, without mental impairment, the bromides arrest the seizures, either temporarily or permanently, after a short course. In another 25 per cent the bromides lessen the frequency and severity of the fits, this being the common _temporary_ result of their use in _all cases_ in the first stages.

In quite 50 per cent of cases, the effect of bromides diminishes as they are continued, and they finally exert no influence at all. Many cases are temporarily "cured", the drug is stopped, and the seizures recur. Bromides are valuable in recent and mild cases, but no medicine exerts much effect on severe cases of long standing, which usually end in an inst.i.tution.

When these drugs are taken continuously, nausea, vomiting, sleepiness, confusion of thought and speech, lapses of memory, palpitation, furred tongue, unsteady walk, acne and other symptoms of "bromism" may arise, whereupon the patient must stop taking bromides and see a doctor, who will subst.i.tute other drugs for a time.

If heart palpitation be troublesome while using bromides, take a teaspoonful of sal volatile in water.

See a doctor if you can; _until_ you see him, get from a chemist:

Pota.s.sii bromidi 10 grains.

Sodii bromidi 10 grains.

Boracis purificati 5 grains.

Aquae 1 fluid ounce.

Two tablespoonfuls in water three times a day after meals.

This prescription is for an adult. If the patient be under twenty-one, tell the chemist his age, and he will make it up proportionately.

Victims who have seizures with some regularity at a certain time, should take the three doses in one, two hours before the attack is expected. If there are long intervals between attacks, cease taking bromides after one fit and recommence three weeks before the next seizure is apprehended. When there is an interval of six months or more between attacks, take no drugs.

Bromides in solution are unpalatable, patients grow careless of regularity and dosage.

You must learn from your doctor and your own experience the prescription, time and dose best suited to your case, and then _never miss a dose until you have been free from fits for two years_, for the beneficial action of bromide depends on the tissues becoming and remaining "saturated" with the drug. Never give up bromides suddenly after long use, but gradually reduce the dose.

It is just when the disease has been brought under control, that patients consider further doctor's bills an unnecessary expense, with the result that a little later the fits recur, and a tedious treatment has to be commenced over again.

No value can be placed on any specific for epilepsy until it has been thoroughly tested for some years, and so proved that its effects are permanent, for almost any treatment is of value for a time, possibly through the agency of suggestion.