Transcriber’s Note In this text version of “Nervous Breakdowns and How to Avoid Them” words in italics are marked with _underscores_. Sidenotes have been moved to the start of the paragraph to which they refer. All sidenotes were originally printed in bold. Inconsistent hyphenation and irregular grammar are retained. Minor changes to punctuation have been made without comment. Other changes are listed at the end of the book. NERVOUS BREAKDOWNS AND HOW TO AVOID THEM _All rights reserved_ Nervous Breakdowns and How to Avoid Them BY CHARLES D. MUSGROVE M.D. NEW YORK FUNK AND WAGNALLS COMPANY 1913 BRISTOL, ENG.: J. W. ARROWSMITH LTD., QUAY STREET. CONTENTS. _Page_ CHAPTER I. BREAKDOWNS 1 The shock. The kind of person most liable. The nature of breakdowns. Neurasthenia, the two types. CHAPTER II. THE DANGER SIGNAL 9 The signs of a breakdown. Each individual his or her own standard. Breakdowns preventable. CHAPTER III. HEALTH 19 Health, not illness, the standard. What health is. The motor-car. The human machinery. Interplay between the various parts. Combustion--Ashes or waste matter, and how got rid of. The nervous ramifications. Starvation and poisoning. Compensation. Cause of breakdown. The remedy. CHAPTER IV. THE VALUE OF HEALTH 31 Happiness. Efficiency of work. CHAPTER V. REWARDS AND PENALTIES 38 The health seeker. The reward of care. The inevitable penalty. Nature’s disregard of motives. The laws of health. Food, fresh air, exercise and rest. CHAPTER VI. THE HUMAN ENGINE, AND HOW TO STOKE IT 47 The locomotive stoker. The human furnace: (1) The sort of food to take, (2) The amount necessary, (3) How to take it, (4) When to take it. CHAPTER VII. WHAT TO EAT 51 Differences of constitution. Likes and dislikes. Good and bad cooking. Proteids or meat foods. Meat and gout. Starchy foods. Bread. The saliva. The slow poison of dyspepsia. Eggs. Soups. Fat. Milk. Sour milk treatment. Sauces. Hunger the best sauce. Tea. Coffee. Alcohol. CHAPTER VIII. HOW TO EAT FOOD 67 Mastication. The importance of sound teeth. CHAPTER IX. HOW MUCH FOOD TO TAKE 73 Personal requirements. As a rule people eat too much. Dangers of excess. Diet at middle age. Diet for the obese.