The first thing to do, is to try to remove whatever defect in the general health can be discovered. Then local treatment should be had recourse to. One method of such treatment is that perfected by Weir Mitchell of Philadelphia, and extensively carried out in this country by Playfair, myself, and others. Stated generally, it consists, in severe cases, in keeping the patient absolutely at rest in bed, and obtaining the tonic influence of exercise by daily massage and electricity,--_i.e._, skilled rubbing and kneading of the muscles, and putting them in action by electricity. At the same time abundant food is given in an easily digestible form. By this method the wearying effects of fatigue are avoided and patients often recover rapidly. Skilled massage and electrisation are essential. Without these, rest in bed will probably convert the patient into a helpless invalid. This method has been carried out extensively, and with marked success, for several years past, at the West End School of Massage and Electricity, 67 Welbeck Street, some of whose students have been sent to the Continent, India, and the Colonies, there training other nurses, and becoming new centres of usefulness. But while upon this subject of massage, I would enter my earnest protest against what is called “_isolation_,” and especially against any attempt to “manage” a patient. As Cyril Bennett wrote in a former work, when a doctor and a nurse think they are “managing” an invalid, nervous, suffering woman, you may depend upon it that in nine cases out of ten they are mis-managing her. The best physicians of the day are remarkable, not more for their medical knowledge and skill, than for their charm of manner, their human kindness, their warm sympathy with suffering. The wise physician is the family friend, the trusted adviser, the counsellor and comforter in many a trouble and anxiety: and so also with the nurse. She should possess the _sensitive_ rather than the _strong_ hand, and refinement, patience, tact, and sympathy. In certain cases of nervous disease, great benefit is derived from the use alone, and without massage, of the variety of electricity called “Franklinism,” after the illustrious philosopher and statesman who so carefully studied it. We have all heard the story of the thunder-cloud, the kite, the key tied to the kite-string; Franklin’s disappointment that he obtained no electricity; its coming on to rain, and by wetting the string making it a conductor; and his delight at being able to draw sparks--real miniature flashes of lightning--from the key with his knuckles. This form of electricity has been little used until a short time since, owing to certain inconveniences in its application; but recent improvements in the manufacture of instruments have largely removed these inconveniences, and placed at our service a remedy of great promise, and in some cases of unequalled value.