Each decade presents to the medical man a new problem; that is, the advancing edge of his science is ever shifting. Progress at one point permits of progress at other, formerly quieter zones. Twenty years ago a large group of medical patients were not well treated. "Neurasthenics" they were called, or, if they seemed likely to resent that name, they were assured that they were "only nervous," that they "had no organic trouble." The average general practitioner did not know how to help them, and so by his unsympathetic attitude he drove them into the churches and offices of various sects antagonistic to medicine.
The improved methods of diagnosis and the great recent advances in our knowledge of the functional neuroses have, however, proved to us that very many of these patients can be helped, some very easily. Many complain of easy fatigability alone, which may be due to various