NERVOUS DISEASES oP AN OBSCURE NATunn AND NERVOUSNESS. Althoe.gh the most important affections of the nervous system, as chorea, convulsions, epilepsy, hydro phobia, hypochondriasis. hysteria, neuralgia, paralysis, spasms, and tetanus, have been considered in special articles, there is all infinite variety of (often evanescent) forms which the diseases of the nervous system assume, some of which we propose now to con sider.
These nervous affections are almost solely confined to women, and most of them may be regarded as modified forms of hysteria. Simulated pregnancy, or, as the Frenclt phy sicians term it, nervous pregnancy, is an affection of not very rare occurrence. The abdomen gradually enlarges, the catameuia are suppressed, and sickness, enlargement of the breasts,with the other symtoms of pregnancy, supervene (as far as they can be recog nized by the non-professional observer), and it is only the non-appearance of the infant at the expected period that leads to a suspicion of the true nature of the case. The ding- DOS'S of such a case is extremely difficult, and the most celebrated accoucheurs have been deceived. We commence with this extreme instance, as being singularly illustrative of the power which a perverted action of the nervous system may impress upon certain persons. The somewhat allied cases in which patients persist in fancying themselves pregnant in opposition to the opinion of their medical adviser (as the well-known case of queen Mary, so admirably drawn by Fronde), arc far more numerous. The intestines are often implicated in cases of a deranged condition of the nervous system. The excre tion of gas from the intestinal mucous membrane is often much increased in the class of patients commonly called nervous. The rattling sounds produced by the movement of the gas—scientifically known as bomborygmi—are sometimes so loud as to prevent the patient from entering into society with comfort; and sometimes the mere fear of the occurrence of these sounds is sufficient to induce them. A depraved appetite, scientific ally known as pica, is a common symptom of deranged nervous system both in chlo rotic young women, in whom the catamenial discharge is not well established, and in pregnant women. See MORBID APPETITES. The not very rare cases of fasting women
and girls belong to the same category. All these cases, however, ultimately undergo detection.
Dr. Parry and other physicians have described cases of morbid sensibilitv of the Mucous membrane of the pharynx, in which the muscles of the larynx are crated into violent action if the patient takes a sip of water or other fluid. - Such cases so strongly simulate hydrophobia that they are described as hysteric hydrophobia.
Passing on to the special modifications which an abnormal state of the nervous sys tem impresses bp the organs of circulation, we have nervous palpitation of the heart, which may readily be distinguished from palpitation dependent on change of structure by due attention to symptoms. There is a peculiar form of abdominal pulsation. due solely to nervous influence, which may not very unfrequently be felt on pressing the hand on the patient's abdomen. It has in many cases been mistaken for aneurism.
The nervous symptoms implicating the respiratory organs are not only the most com mon of any, but are alarming and urgent, and may be readily mistaken for indications of serious inflammatory or organic disease. Nervous asthma, which is supposed to depend upon a spasmodic constriction of the bronchial tubes, is too well known to require com ment. Women from a deranged condition of the nervous system sometimes present symptoms of what may be termed nervous catarrh—such as a copious flow of tears, free discharge from the nostrils, and constant sneezing. Such cases are often periodic. They may be treated with preparations of iron, and are sometimes at once checked by a pinch of snuff. There are various forms of cough due mainly to nervous irritation, the difference in the character of the cough probably depending on the spot which is the seat of irritation. 110, we of *odic tough, which is:Often ateampanied by much straining and convulsive agitation, and somewhat resembles whooping-cough; ringing cough, accompanied by dyspncea and hoarseness, or loss of voice; barking cough, often arising from irritation of the ovaries, etc. Such coughs as these are aggravated by depleting measures, ordinary cough medicines, etc., and usually disappear under the use of tonics.