ents are possible that
can help the average woman. It is conceded that where the life situation
involves an unalterable factor, relief or help may be unobtainable.

It is necessary first of all to rule out physical disease. To do this
means a thorough physical study. By doing this a considerable number of
women will be immensely helped. Flat feet, varicose veins, injuries to
the organs of generation, eye strain, relaxed gastro-intestinal tract,
and the major diseases,--these must be remembered as factors that may
determine nervousness.

With this question settled, let us assume that there is no such
difficulty or it has been remedied, and we have next to consider the
life situation of the patient. Here we enter into a difficult place,
where knowledge of life and understanding of men and women, as well as
tact, are the essentials.

It is necessary to remedy whatever bad hygienic habits exist. A rich
woman may have settled down to a deenergizing life, with too much time
in bed, too many matinees, too many late nights, too many bonbons, etc.
Aside from the psychical injuries that such a life produces, it is bad
for "the nerves" in its effects upon digestion, bodily tone, and the
sources of mood. On some simple detail of life, some unfortunate habit,
the whole structure of misery may rest.

I always keep in mind an incident of some years ago when I lived in a
small town in Massachusetts. For some reason our furnace threw coal gas
into the house in such a way as nearly to poison us. The landlord sent
several plumbers down, and one after the other suggested drastic
remedies,--a new chimney, a new furnace, etc. Finally the landlord and I
investigated for ourselves. At the bottom of the chimney we found an
inconspicuous loose brick which allowed air to enter the chimney beneath
the entrance of the pipe from the stove. We got ten cents' worth of lime
and fastened the brick in firmly. A complete cure, where the specialists
had failed.

So there often exists some drain on the energy and strength of the woman
which may be simple and easily changed, and yet is critical in its
significance and importance.

An overdomestic woman may stick too closely to the house; an
underdomestic one may go too often to movies and suffer the fatigue of
mind and body that comes from over-indulgence in this most popular
indoor sport. Carelessness about the eating and the care of the bowel
functions may have started a vicious chain of things lead