CONFESSIONS OF A NEURASTHENIC BY WILLIAM TAYLOR MARRS, M.D. With Original Illustrations PHILADELPHIA F. A. DAVIS COMPANY PUBLISHERS COPYRIGHT 1908, BY F. A. DAVIS COMPANY. [Registered at Stationers' Hall, London, Eng.] Philadelphia, Pa., U. S. A.: Press of F. A. Davis Company, 1916 Cherry Street. AUTHOR'S APOLOGY. The author's life-work having been such as to enable him to be especially observant, he can vouch for nearly every incident and statement recorded in this monograph as being based upon an actual experience, and therefore not merely the creation of something out of the whole cloth. In this instance, the neurasthenic is made to carry quite a heavy burden; thus, in a measure, suffering vicariously for the whole class to which he belongs. The author has used his best efforts to tell his story in a happy vein, without padding and a multiplicity of words. The writing of it has been a task well mixed with pleasure, the latter of which it is hoped the reader may, in some small measure, share. The suggestions that are intended to be conveyed project between the lines, and therefore need no pointing out. The one apology which the author desires to offer is for the constant repetition of the personal pronoun. This has been all along a matter of sincere regret to the author, but he saw no way of obviating it. It is a difficult matter to tell a story, when you are your own hero and villain, and keep down to a modest limit the ever-recurring _I_. WILLIAM TAYLOR MARRS. Peoria, Illinois. CONTENTS. CHAPTER PAGE I. The Neurasthenic during his Infancy 1 II. The Perversity of his Childhood 7 III. As a Shiftless and Purposeless Youth 16 IV. His Pursuit of an Education 20 V. Tries to Find an Occupation Conducive to Health 27 VI. New Symptoms and the Pursuit of Health 35 VII. The Neurasthenic Falls in Love 42 VIII. Morbid Fears and Fancies 50 IX. Germs and How he Avoided Them. Appendicitis 55 X. Dieting for Health's Sake 63 XI. Tells of a Few New Occupations and Ventures 71 XII. Tries a New Business; also Travels some for his Health 77 XIII. Tries a Retired Life; is also an Investigator of New Thought, Christian Science, Hypnotic Suggestion 84 XIV. The Cultivation of a Few Vices and the Consequences 90 XV. Considers Politics and Religion. Consults Osteopathic and Homeopathic Doctors 94 XVI. Takes a Course in a Medical College 101 XVII. Turns Cow-boy. Has Run the Gamut of Fads 108