Diseases > Domestic medicine

. 444
buchan’s
HYPOCHONDRIAC AFFECTIONS.
Tliis disease generally attacks the indolent, the
luxurious, the unfortunate, and the studious. It
becomes daily more common in this country, owing,
no doubt, to the increase of luxury and sedentary em¬
ployments. It has so near a resemblance to the
immediately preceding, that many authors consider
them as the same disease, and treat them accordingly.
They require however a very different regimen ; and
the symptoms of the latter, though less violent, are
more permanent than those of the former.
Men of a melancholy temperament, whose minds
are capable of great attention, and whose passions are
not easily moved, are in the advanced periods of life,
most liable to this disease. It is usually brought on
by long and serious attention to abstruse subjects,
grief, the suppression of customary evacuations, ex¬
cess of venery, the repulsion of cutaneous eruptions,
long continued evacuations, obstructions in some of
the viscera, as the liver, spleen, &c.
Hypochondriac persons ought never to fast long,
and their food should be solid and nourishing. All
acescent and windy vegetables are to be avoided.
Flesh meats agree best with them, and their drink
should be old claret, or good madeira. Should these
disagree with the stomach, water with a little brandy
or rum in it may be drunk.
Cheerfulness and serenity of mind are by all means
to be cultivated. Exercise of every kind is useful,
T ho cold bath is likewise beneficial; and, where it
d oes not agree with the patient, frictions with tt e
il esh brush or a coarse cloth may be tried. If tna
> atient has it in his power, he ought to travel ether
by sea or land. A voyage or a long journey, espe¬
cially towards a warmer cliu'ate, will be of more service
than any medicine.