Life — January 18, 1923 — page 33: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

NERVE EXHAUSTION - OD DF ET: By PAUL von BOECKMANN 31 How We Become Shell-Shocked in Every-Day Life Lecturer and Author of numerous’ books and treatises on Mental and_Physical Energy, Respiration, Psychology, Sexual Science and Neroe Culture ible than Nerve Exhaustion, and that is its kin, Insanity. Only those who have passed through a siege of Nerve Exhaustion can understand the true mean- ing of this statement. It is HELL; no other word can express it. At first, the victim is afraid he will die, and as it grips him deeper, he is afraid he will not die; so great jg his mental torture. He becomes panic- stricken and irresolute. A sickening sensa- F tion of weakness and helplessness over- comes him. He becomes obsesse1 with the © thought of self-destruc.ion. Nerve Exhaustion means Nerve Bank- ruptcy. The wonderful organ we term the Nervous System consists of countless mil- lions of cells. These cells are reservoirs which store a raysterious energy we term Nerve Force. The amount stored repre- sents our Nerve Capital. Every organ works with all its might to keep the supply of Nerve Force in these cells at a high level, for Life itself depends more upon Nerve Force than on the food we eat or even the air we breathe. If we unduly tax the nerves through over- work, worry, excitement or grief, or if we subject the muscular system to excessive strain, we consume more Nerve Force than the organs produce, and the natural result must be Nerve Exhaustion. Nerve Exhaustion is not a malady that comes suddenly. It may be years in de- yelopit.g and the decline is accompanied by unmistakable symptoms which, unfortu- nately, cannot readily be recognized. The average person thinks .hat when his hands do not tremble and his muscles do not T HERE is but one malady more ter- twitch, he cannot possibly be nervous. This’ isa dangerous assumption, for people with hands as solid as a rock and who appear to be in perfect health may be dangerously near Nerve Collapse. One of the first symptoms of Nerve Ex- haustion is the derangement of the Sympa- thetic Nervous System, the nerve branch which governs the vital organs (see diagram). In other words, the vital organs become sluggish because of insufficient supply of Nerve Energy. This is manifested by a cycle of weaknesses and disturbances in digestion ; constipation, poor blood circula- tion and general muscular lassitude usually being the first to be noticed. have for more than thirty years studied the health problem from every angle. My investigations and deductions always trought me back to the immutable truth that Nerve Derangement and Nerve Weak- ness is the basic cause of nearly every bodily ailment, pain or disorder. I agree with the noted British authority on the nerves, Alfred T. Schofield, M.D., the author of tumerous works on the subject, who Says: “It is my belief that the greatest single factor in the maintenance of health is that the nerves be in order.” The great war has taught us how frail the nervous system is and how sensitive it is to strain, especially mental and emotional strain. Shell Shock, it was proved, does not injure the nerve fibres in themselves. The effect is entirely mental. Thousands lost their reason thereby, over 135 cases from New York alone being in asylums for the msane. Many more thousands became nervous wrecks. The strongest men be- came paralyzed so that they could not stand, eat or even speak. One-third of all the hospital cases were “nerve cases,” all due to excessive strain of the Sympathetic Nervous System. The mile-a-minute life of today, with its worry, hurry, grief and mental tension is exactly the same as Shell Shock, except that the shock is less forcible, but more pro- longed, and in the end just as disastrous. Our crowded insane asylums bear witness to the truth of this statement. Nine people out of ten you meet have “frazzled nerves.” Perhaps you Lave chased from doctor to doctor seeking relief for a mysterious “something the matter with you.” Each doctor tells you that there is nothing the matter with you that every organ is per- fect. But you know there is something the matter. You feel it, and you act it. You are tired, dizzy, cannot sleep, cannot digest your food, and you have pains here and there. You are told you are “run down” and need a rest. Or the doctor may give you a tonic. Leave nerve tonics alone. It is like making a tired horse run by towing him behind an automobile. — Pelvic Organs The Sympathetic Nervous System Showing how Vital Organ is governed by the Nercous fem, and how the Solar Plexus, commonly known a: the ibdominal brain, is the Great Central Station for the distribu. tion of Nerve Forces Our Health, Happiness and Success in life demands that we face these facts un- derstandingly. I have written a 64-page book on this subject which teaches how to protect the nerves from everyday Shell Shock. It teaches how to soothe, calm and care for the nerves; how to nourish them through proper breathing and other means. The cost of the book is only 25 cents. Re- mit in coin or stamps. See address at the bottom of page. If the book does not meet your fullest expectations, your money will be refunded, plus your outlay of postage. The book, “Nerve Force,” solves the problem for you and will enable you to diagnose your troubles understandingly. The facts presented will prove a revelation to you, and the advice given will be of incalculable value to you. You should send for this book today. It is for you, whether you have had trouble with your nerves or not. Your nerves are the most precious possession you have. Through them you experience all that makes life worth living, for to be dull nerved means to be dull brained, insensible to the higher phases of life—love, moral courage, ambition and temperament. The finer your brain is, the finer and more de- licate is your nervous system, and the more imperative it is that you care for your nerves. The book is especially important to those who have “high strung” nerves and those who must tax their nerves to the limit. The following are extracts from letters from people who have read the book and were greatly benefited Sy the teachings set forth therein: “T have gained 12 pounds since ‘reading your book, and I feel so energetic. I had about given up hope of ever finding the cause of my low weight.” “T have been treated by a number of nerve specialists, and have traveled from country to country in an endeavor to re- store my nerves to normal. Your little book has done more for me than all of the other methods combined.” “Your book did more for me for indiges- tion than two courses in dieting.” “My heart is now regular again and my nerves are fine. I thought I had heart trouble, but it was simply a case of abused nerves. I have reread your book at least ten times.” A woman writes: “Your book has helped my nerves wonderfully. I am sleeping so well and in the morning I feel so rested.” “ The advice given in your book on relax- ation and calming of nerves has cleared my brain. Before I was half dizzy all the time.” A physician says: “Your book shows you have scientific and profound knowl- edge of the nerves and nervous people. I am recommending your book to my pa- tients.” A prominent lawyer in Ansonia, Conn., says: “Your book saved me from a nervous collapse, such as I had three years ago. I now sleep soundly and am gaining weight. I can again do a real day’s work.” The Prevention of Colds Of the various books, pamphlets and trea: tises which I have written on the subject of health and efficiency, none has attracted more favorable comment than my sixteen- page booklet entitled, “The Prevention of Colds.” There is no human being absolutely im- mune to Colds. However, people who breathe correctly and deeply are not easily susceptible to Colds. This is clearly ex- plained in my book NERVE FORCE. Other important factors, nevertheless, play an important part in the prevention of Colds—factors that concern the matter of ventilation, clothing, humidity, tempera- ture, etc. These factors are fully discussed in the booklet Prevention of Colds. No ailment is of greater danger than an “ordinary cold,” as it may lead to Influenza, Grippe, Pneumonia or Tuberculosis. More deaths resulted during the recent “Flu” epi- demic than were killed during the entire war, over 6,000,000 people dying in India alone. A copy of the booklet Prevention of Colds will be sent Free upon receipt of 25c with the book Nerve Force. You will agree that this alone is worth many times the price asked for both books. Address: PAUL von BOECKMANN Studio 268, 110 West 40th St., New York comicbooks.com