The union Democrat., 1870-06-18
6bs Nniun 9smntrat,
The xleurs and iis Disease..
ny an EMINENT PHYSICIAN.


II l. an interesting and important fact tina,
the more grave diseases of the heart are not
i.aiuful, or but slightly 81. Not unfrequent-
.ly the first disturbance of its action which Ct.
tracts attention indicates en- advanced and
incarrble stage of disease that has been 10
progress months, and perhaps years.
The converse of this proposition is eminent.
iy t-ue-nameiy, nervous and functional dis
orders Of the heart are painful, or otherwise
distressing, often to an apparently alarming
extert. How many suffer from palpitation
aad believe taey are afflicted with fata! dis
ease Of the heart? How many have ''pain
about the heart,n and cannot be convinced
that there is no disease Of that organ? How
many have irregularities of the pulse, and
suppose the heart raust be in the last stages
If disorganization Il will interest this class
uf real sufferers to learn some of the causes Of
their distress, and 70 what their sufferings
may be attributed.
palpisation and irregular action ofthe heart
are often experienced in persons between the
ages of sixteen and twenty years they are.
ar have generally been. growing rapidly, are
Of delicate appearance, end frequently are
addicted to some vicious habits. In such
persons, the blood is thin aud poor, and the
heart aud nerves fail to perform their proper
function for want Of support. Derangement
Of the stomach often gives rise to these symp-
toms, and they mev persist for long period
from this cause. A lady who four years suf-
fered from violent paroxysms of palpitation,
which many physicians attributed to organic
disease of the heart, happened on one occa-
zion to take some medicine which induced
vomiting, and this act was followed by inn
mediate recovery. Subsequently, whenever
she had the symptoms of an approaching at
tack of palpitation, she resorted to an emetic,
which not only gave relief to the paroxysm
but finally relieved her altogether. In an
other cGse, patient entered hospital suf
tering severely from violent action of the
heart; he was bied, aud blistered, and purg
cd without benefit; having taken large
dose Of medicine, vomiting ensned, with i'm
mediate and permanent relief
Tea, and especially green tea, 10 very lia-
lie to disturb the hearts action when used
by susceptible persons. And there is no
doubt that an immense number of persons in
every community suffer from minor forms of
heart derangemant, due to the use of tea.
physician once called upon brother physi-
cian, in great alarm, saying: II haYe call
ed upon you to request you would let me de
IL your house, His pulse was scarcely dis
cernible. and extremely irregular. Hestated
that he had drank o great deal of strong
green tea during the preceding night. On
giving him stimulant, he fell asleep, and
ON awakening, his distressing symptoms had
disappeared.
literary gentleman, accustomed to much
night-work, was accustomed to take large
quantities Of tea, which finally produced its
results. lie began to have paroxysms of vio-
lanf artinr, nf tho haart dfotracc ar1 npnros-
zion about the chest, and feeling of impend-
ing death. lie became convinced that he
had extensive disease of the heart and hence
was low-spirited, fearing he shocll die in one
of these attacks. at length he found it i'm
possible to walk without holding on to the
fence through fear Of falling, and in one in
stance got down upon all fours to cross q level
space. lie was cured by abstaining from tea
and taking a sea-voyage.
Tobacco produces the greatest decree of ir-
regularity of the heart, especially in the
young susceptible. Dysteria, a rrotean dis
case, gives rise to great variety of heart de-
rangements. Young women when subject to
much emotional excitement, suffer from pal
pitation, with a choking sensation, as ifsome-
thing were rising in the throat. These
symptcms may increase until they reach a
painful degree of intensity Persons who
have suffered from suustroke, or been over
heated, often have irregular action of the
heart for long period Mental excitement
and long-continued depression often lead to
arrangements Of the hearts action.
The nerves Of the heart are also subject to
neuralgia, and the pain is sometimes extreme
ly severe. The popular term, ''breast
,pang, is painful condition of the nerves
Of the heart, coming on suddenly, and fixing
tho sufferer in the position which he had
taken, and almost completely inserrupting
respiration.
In the treatment of oil these forms of mere
deraugerents of the heart, the first and most
necessary thing to do is to remove the cause
that is, 10 avoid oil those causes which pro-
duca the disturbance. IF is tea, tobacco,
or osher substance which the person is ac-
eustonied to use. omit it altogether if it is q
weakening habit. correct it; above ALL con-
suit good physician. and tell him frankly
every cause which it is suspected creates the
difficulty. For temporary treatment, stim-
ulant, rest, and the application of mustard
over the heart, are important, and generally
give prompt relief.
WuAT EpparS Vn,-~r Mr,- no,-., IA