* * * * *

PREFACE

I hope this book will meet a real need, for when one considers how
prevalent epilepsy, hysteria and neurasthenia are, among all ranks and ages
of both sexes, it seems remarkable some such popular book was not written
long ago.

I add nothing to our knowledge of these ills, my object being to put what
we know into simple words, and to insist on the necessity for personal
discipline being allied to expert aid. The book aims at helping, not
ousting, the doctor, who may find it of use in getting his patient to
see--and to act on--the obvious.

"Nervous Disease", as here used, includes only the three diseases treated
of; "Neuropath"--victims of them.

"Advice" to a neuropath is usually a very depressing decalogue of "Thou
Shalt Nots!" If it be made clear _why_ he must _not_ do so-and-so, the
patient endeavours to obey; peremptorily ordered to obey, he rebels. Much
sound advice is wasted for lack of an interesting, convincing, "Reason
Why!" which would ensure the hearty and very helpful co-operation of a
patient who had been taught that writing prescriptions is not the limit of
a doctor's activities.

Many folk, with touching belief in his own claims, regard the quack as a
hoary-headed sage, who from disinterested motives devotes his life to
curing ailments, by methods of which he alone has the secret, at low fees.
To fight this dangerous idea I have tried to show in an interesting way how