defective, we have great languor and coldness. This usually may be
remedied by rubbing over the spine with hot olive oil. Violent heat, or
blistering, simply destroys the skin, and hinders healthy action.
Gentle heat, or gentle cooling, long continued, is the best treatment.
Especially is this true in the case of little children (_see_
Children's Healthy Growth). For treatment of the nervous system,
peculiar attention should always be paid to the point where all the
spinal nerves enter and issue from the brain. This is at the hollow
usually present at the base of the back of the skull, where it is
jointed on to the spinal bones. Rubbing here is most powerful, either
with acetic acid or olive oil, and hot or cold cloths should always be
well pressed into the hollow, when applied to the head or upper spine.
(_See_ Diagram, page 234).

Failures of muscular power are caused by failure in the spinal cord. If
a child cannot walk, but only trails his legs, or if he cannot hold his
head erect, skilful rubbing with hot oil on the spine will often quite
cure the defects. Do not rub too hard. Feel for the muscles around the
spine, and gently insinuate healing influence with your fingers, so as
to reach the nerves below. Use a moderate quantity of oil, and the
effects will be marvellous.

Nerves, Troubled.--Often a state of the nerves exists, without any
apparent unhealthiness, which makes the whole system so sensitive, that
ordinary sights, sounds, and smells become unbearable, and the patient
feels the ordinary round of experience, which would never be noticed
otherwise, an intolerable burden. Strange feelings all over the body,
and an indescribable series of seemingly "fanciful" troubles, come on.
It is of no use, and indeed injurious, to treat such cases as merely
fanciful. The wrong bodily condition must be righted if the mental
condition is to improve. The first thing needed is _quiet_. Quietness
rests the overstrained nervous system very much. Nerve-benumbing drugs
are most hurtful (_see_ Narcotics). Let the light in the room be
subdued, and strong smells avoided. To rest the skin nerves, wear only
Kneipp linen underclothing, and flannels _above_ this if required.
Bathe the tongue and palate by taking mildly warm water into the mouth
and ejecting it again. Soap the head, and all over the body, if it can
be done without chilling, three times a week. (_See_ Head, Soaping;
Lather, etc.).

Nervous Attacks.--What we call,