The Rest Cure was a medical regimen widely adopted in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to address various psychological and physical ailments. Physicians of the era used it to treat “nervous exhaustion,” a condition believed to stem from the overstimulation of modern life. The treatment was founded on the principle of enforced repose, prescribing complete physical and mental inactivity to allow the patient’s depleted nervous system to recover its strength. This controversial therapy gained great popularity across Europe and America, though it is no longer practiced today.
Historical Context and Origin
The Rest Cure was developed by the American neurologist Dr. S. Weir Mitchell, who formalized the treatment in his 1877 book, Fat and Blood. Mitchell designed the regimen for patients suffering from “neurasthenia,” a diagnosis popularized in the United States and often nicknamed “Americanitis.” This vague disorder encompassed symptoms like chronic fatigue, anxiety, headaches, and general malaise, which were not responsive to other medical interventions at the time.
The underlying medical theory suggested that the stresses of industrial society and intellectual activity depleted the body’s finite supply of “nerve force.” Mitchell proposed that only absolute physical and mental inactivity could halt this expenditure and permit the nervous system to regenerate. His approach was informed by observing the benefits of rest and nutrition in treating wounded Civil War soldiers. The treatment quickly became fashionable and spread internationally as a solution for complex emotional disorders.
Core Components of the Treatment
The Rest Cure was a rigorous, multi-faceted regimen designed for total control over the patient’s environment and actions. The primary requirement was complete enforced isolation. The patient was removed from all familiar surroundings, including family and friends, sometimes for months at a time. This separation eliminated environmental stimuli and prevented any activity that might tax the nerves.
Patients were confined to absolute bed rest for six to eight weeks, often prohibiting basic movements like sitting up or turning over without assistance. Mentally stimulating activities, such as reading, writing, or sewing, were strictly forbidden to ensure that the brain remained entirely at rest. A special nurse was assigned to the patient, managing every aspect of their life, including feeding and keeping the mind from “morbid thoughts.”
A second major component was systematic forced overfeeding, which Mitchell believed would build up the patient’s blood and weight, thereby combating perceived wasting. The diet was extremely high in calories and fat, often beginning with milk alone, or up to eighteen raw eggs per day. Patients were frequently given milk every two hours, along with meat extracts and sometimes raw beef soup, aiming for substantial weight gain.
To counteract the physical effects of prolonged immobility, the regimen included passive treatments. Daily massage was administered to prevent muscle atrophy and stimulate circulation in the absence of physical exercise. This was often supplemented by electrical stimulation, or faradization, applied to the muscles to maintain their tone during the extended period of bed rest.
The Decline and Legacy
The Rest Cure eventually fell out of favor due to mounting criticisms and shifts in medical understanding. A major concern was the significant gender bias inherent in the treatment, as it was overwhelmingly prescribed to women, often those who exhibited intellectual ambition or dissatisfaction with traditional domestic roles. Mitchell and his colleagues frequently discouraged female patients from pursuing intellectual or professional activities, believing such “brain work” was detrimental to their health.
The most famous condemnation came from author Charlotte Perkins Gilman, who underwent the treatment for postpartum depression. After being advised by Mitchell to cease all writing, Gilman wrote the semi-autobiographical short story “The Yellow Wallpaper.” The story detailed a woman’s descent into madness while undergoing the restrictive cure, illustrating the psychological harm caused by enforced isolation.
By the early 20th century, the diagnosis of neurasthenia began to decline, viewed increasingly as an overly broad term. New psychological treatments, including early forms of psychotherapy, gained popularity, supplanting Mitchell’s biological focus on nerve depletion. Alternative approaches, such as the “Work Cure,” encouraged activity and engagement, contrasting directly with the Rest Cure’s philosophy of total inactivity.