In this work, William Smoult Playfair offers a medical perspective on the treatment of nerve disorders and hysteria, which were commonly diagnosed in women during the Victorian era. He argues for a holistic approach that takes into account both the physical and psychological aspects of these conditions and proposes various therapeutic interventions. This book is an important document of the history of psychiatry and offers insights into the cultural attitudes toward mental illness. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.