The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1870-04-28
The Heart ald Its Diseases.
BY IN EMINENT PHYSICIAN.

RY IN EM1NENT PHlSlClAN.
A MEDICAL writer says: A healthy
heart never bursts, in spite OF the great
est strain" This is remarkable fact
when we recollect what an immense
power the heart exercises when the circu-
iatlon is greatly increased by labor or vio-
lent exertions. He adds: aft the organ
be diseased, strains of any kind may, no
doubt, aid in causing its rupture" Rup-
ture of the heart is doubtless a frequent
cause of sudden death. 1t may occur on
slight over-exertion, or even when the
subject of it is resting in bed. Many per-
sons found dead in bed die instantaneously
from this cause. In ascending stairs, the
heart is always severely taxed; and 1t IS
no uncommon occurrence tor feeble
person to fall dead in the effort. The
author above quoted says; The most
frequent cause of rupture is fatty degen
Grafton" What is fatty degeneration?
Fat is one of the most lowly organized
tissues in the body. Wherever it appears
in more than its normal quantity, the
food beiuz he same, il indicates weakness
of the vial forces. The increase OF lat
after the middle period of life is an indi-
cation of declining vigor and power. Fat
may accumulate in any organ beyond lts
proper amount, and to an extent to con-
! stitute real disease. When 1t thus IN
creases. it may be deposited in two forms.
First, it may be infiltrated among the It's
sues of the part or organ, and thus
weaken them by separating the tbres.
Second, the fat globules may actually take
the place of other tissues, so that the
entire organ may be converted into fat,
and its function completely destroyed.
The heart has been described as a mus
cular organ. The muscular fibres arc
long and thread-like, and beautifully ar
ranged around the cavities. so as by their
contraction to prOpel the blood therefrOm.
The power of these muscles depends upon
their cOmpactness and integrity. 1t may
happen, however, that fat in unusual
quantities is deposited between these
flores, and at once the force of the expul-
sive effort of the heart is diminished. In
proportion as the fat increases, the power
OF the muscles diminishes, until 1t finally
becomes a weak heart" II the fat in
creases to large extent, interspaces OF
fat are formed between the muscular fibres,
and the danger of rupture gradually IN
creases. The heart once iniiltrated with
fat, is liable, on any sudden exertiOn or
violent emotion, to rupture through me
stratum of fat But, again, the fat may,
as in the second instance Given, actually
replace the natural muscular tissue. The
muscular molecule, in that case, disap
pears, and in its place VIC find only fat and
the investing membrane OF the muscle.
Such heart is necessarily weaker than
the former, because the muscular struc-
ture itself is replaced by an inert tissue
A heart in this condition is still more
liable to rupture than the former, upon
any unusual strain being put upon it, and
at some not remote period its walls viii
yield even when the body is at rest. In
whichever method the fat is arranged,
the heart is said to have undergone fatty
degeneration"
The causes OF fatty degeneration are
simply the causes Of decay and death. II
is peculiarly and especially a disease OF
the later periods of life, and compiled
ton of wasting diseases.
Death occurs as follows: In twenty-one
cases eleven died instantaneOusly five
were found dead in bei; three had q
struggle of three to five minutes or had
nausea; one had severe pain about the
heart Death may occur from fainting, as
in the case of Rev. DR.. Chalmers 1t is
supposed that persons suffering from this
disease are peculiarly liable TO die When
| chloroform is administered.
The treatment of this disease should be
such as to preserve and, if possible, in
crease the vital forces. The diet should
be nutritious, and not too abundantly sup
piled with fat, and every source of excite
ment, mental, or physical, should bt
avoided.-Heorh and Home.