Some of the diseases of the nervous system we have already discussed above, those, namely, that interfere with locomotion; other forms of nervous disease call for a short discussion. We are here dealing with certain empiric facts that are not quite understood. In the first place reduction cures are known to act beneficially in certain forms of sciatica and of other neuralgias that we occasionally encounter in obese subjects. I have succeeded in several instances in relieving certain forms of supraorbital and of occipital neuralgia that were very obstinate by instituting a reduction cure even after all other customary methods of treatment had failed. Cases of brachial neuralgia of the left side are also suitable for treatment of this kind, particularly those forms that are combined with pain and oppression in the region of the heart. This variety of neuralgia may either be one of the symptoms of angina pectoris or may appear independently and without any determinable involvement of the coronary arteries of the heart. It is impossible to predict in this or any other form of neuralgia whether or not a reduc tion cure will act beneficially. According to my personal experience in this field, good results are obtained with sufficient frequency to warrant an attempt with this method of treatment, especially as improvement in suitable cases is witnessed within a short time, i.e., within two or three weeks after the reduction cure is begun. In view of this fact it is always an easy matter to determine relatively early in the treatment whether or not a reduction cure is going to lead to the desired goal.

In hysteria great difficulties are offered. Generally speaking we encounter many more cases of hysteria that are poorly nourished and call for an increase of the fat deposit than cases of hysteria that are obese and call for reduction of excessive fat. Cases of the latter kind are by no means rare, however. They are usually of persons who "cannot" or "will not," whose willpower is small. Subjects of this kind usually eat a great deal and are at the same time lazy so that they do not get enough muscular exercise and do not develop any energy and readily grow moderately fat. In many cases of this character a reduction cure carried out according to correct principles and combined with increasing demands on the energy of the patients frequently constitutes the starting point for a new life and a revival of strength and self-confidence. Cures of this kind can only be successfully carried out in closed institutions.