st take life more
easily, but even with a passably good realization of that necessity, he
can practise it only to a certain extent; and most occupants of
rest-cures find themselves driven back more than once for another
"rest."

Nervous disorders, resulting from overwork are all about us. Extreme
nervous prostration is most prevalent. A thoughtful study of the faces
around us, and a better understanding of their lives, brings to light
many who are living, one might almost say, in a chronic state of
nervous prostration, which lasts for years before the break comes. And
because of the want of thought, the want of study for a better, more
natural use of the machine, few of us appreciate our own possible
powers. When with study the appreciation grows, it is a daily surprise,
a constantly increasing delight.

Extreme nervous tension seems to be so peculiarly American, that a
German physician coming to this country to practise became puzzled by
the variety of nervous disorders he was called upon to help, and
finally announced his discovery of a new disease which he chose to call
"Americanitis." And now we suffer from "Americanitis" in all its
unlimited varieties. Doctors study it; nerve medicines arise on every
side; nervine hospitals establish themselves; and rest-cures
innumerable spring up in all directions,--but the root of the matter is
so comparatively simple that in general it is overlooked entirely.

When illnesses are caused by disobedience to the perfect laws of
Nature, a steady, careful obedience to these laws will bring us to a
healthful state again.

Nature is so wonderfully kind that if we go one-tenth of the way, she
will help us the other nine-tenths. Indeed she seems to be watching and
hoping for a place to get in, so quickly does she take possession of
us, if we do but turn toward her ever so little. But instead of
adopting her simple laws and following quietly her perfect way, we try
by every artificial means to gain a rapid transit back to her dominion,
and succeed only in getting farther away from her. Where is the use of
taking medicines to give us new strength, while at the same time we are
steadily disobeying the very laws from the observance of which alone
the strength can come? No medicine can work in a man's-body while the
man's habits are constantly counteracting it. More harm than good is
done in the end. Where is the use of all the quieting medicines, if we
only quiet our nerves in order tha