The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1872-03-15
2 a ~ -sI-GFfF 800 ? ~
Paralysis !; Can 1t be Cured.

Familiar as Il the saying that ti in
the midst of lie we are in death, - il
il an axiom which never loses its
force, but seems to become more alp
plicable with every recurring year.
The results of modern science, espe-
cially in matters Of locomotiOn, have
increased perceptibly the average peril
of human life. Though fearful scourges
that existed in long past ages have
become extinct-tlough the Blague
which the prayer of piOus Phineoils
alone could stay, and the pestilences
OF Biblical times and even in the
middle ages seems to have disap-
peared, 1.-THE aggregate of mortal maladies
Is probably greater than ever. We all
know how, at intervals, stealing from
its miasmatic home amid the jungles
of the far East, the .Asiatic cholera
starts on its death-dealing march
around the globe. We have at this
very day. unhappy proofs of the prev
alence Of one Of the most noisome
and fearful diseases which has ever
existed. Consumption, as ever, MAIN
tains its fearful prominence, and the
roads to the tomb are nearly as nu-
merous as the myriads of travellers
who are fastening to thatsinevitable
destiny. y9 at.a a9gi H... ciias,i,l'
lin certain countries their are local
diseases which have given an unen
viable celebrity to particular places.
Our own land has boasted an immunity
from such infections; but the words
seems to be but idle bravado. Over
the best, the proudest, the most Gull
tivated Of our people there is over
hanging the dread shadow Of an awful
doom. On the keeneSt intellect it Is
most apt to fall. For the busiest, the
most prominent and useful of our
public men, its deadly blight is most
Surely intended. Against the prOwl-
ing murderer we can at least take
measures Of defence; from the burn
ing of the fever we can seek cooling
relief; from the faint of other dis
eases we can ask the protection of
science; but when paralysis seizes
the frame, it is as though the icy
fingers Of death itself had touched US,
and hollow voice was heard to say,
Yet little time, and all is over"
Coming upon man suddenly in
the fullness of life and vigor, the
dread disease presents q horror to
which the grave itself is q stranger. 1t
allows of no time for preparation 1t
sends forth no friendly scouts to
warn us of its coming. When the
moment has arrived, the merchant
leaves his ledger, the lawyer drops his
briefs, the legislator forgets the
measures 80 dear to him, the literary
man turns from his books, the jour-
nalist's pen falls nerveless from his
grasp, and all those thinkers and
workers become helpless objects Of
pity, if conscious themselves, unat lie
to communicate with those about
them living corpses, souls bound,
in the Apostles language, ito the
body in this DEATH"
The Greek word from which our
term paralysis is derived means re-
taxation, in the sense not OF recreation,
but of q letting 60 of the function
of motion or sensation, arising from
or destruction of the nervous influence
necessary to these acts" OF the
technical features of this disease
rather the symptom Of other diseases,
we do not propose here to speak; but
we would direct the attention Of the
medical profession to the prevalence
of the malady in our own cOuntry-a
prevalence which might permit one
to call paralysis nOtional American
complaint. No one can read the
papers lately with even ordinary at
tention without having noticed the
vast number Of cases. The senator at
Washington, the clergyman in the
West, merchants in the marts Of
business, men of apparent leisure in
their quiet homes-all have lately
fallen before the grim fore-runner of
Death. Scientific men attribute these
cases and almost all other paralytic
strokes to the keen, restless activity
of the American mind, which admits
of no recreation or repose. The reason
may be just, but is unsatisfactory. Is
this clipse of all physical and mental
faculties to close, without opposition,
the bright careers of our leading
public men, of our most brilliant in
tellects ? Surely if science cannot cure
the malady, it should timely warning
ing of its awful increase, and devise
some prevention. The tomb comes soon
enough the game opens too readily
for all but let not living death
darken the pathway that leads to the
gloomy portals, If science can do
ought to ward away that fearful WIS.,
liant. -Erchdnge.