The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-07-16
Increase of Paralysis.

1t will probably be nothing new to our
readers to say that wide and anxious in
tcrest exists all thro ugh the country, and
especially the Middle States, from the
marked and steady increase Of paralysis
apoplexy, and the various forms Of brain
and nervous diseases. The Springfield
Republican says: "ViCe President Wilson
has passed into that stage Of health which
Mr.. Chase so long oCcupied-a parRlytit
invalid, to whom life is OF most uncertain
duration" On which the Washington
Erening Star comments as follows:
1--WE noted some time ago the alarming
fact that so many prominent men were
being stricken down with paralysis, and
the case OF Vice President Wilson adds
another TO the long list then presented
which embraces the names OF Chief Jus.
tiCo Chase, Senator Morton, MIR. Coltax,
Senator BrownlOw, Walt Whitman,
Horace Greeley, sc. The cases Of
prominent public men attract more at.
tCntion, but physicians say that paralysis
is notably on the increase amongst all
classes Of the American people. The
question risGs'iC it is getting 10 be q ma
tional disease, and, if so, the cause of it.
Do VIC live too fast, or Is the air 80 dry
as TO keep tho nerves in an unhealthy
conditionY In France, or Paris, where
paralysis is getting to be q familiar dis
ease, the cause has been attributed to a
lie OF oyer.exCitement, the use oil alb.
sinthC, &c. But it will be noticed
that the larger number Of our paralytics
are OF temperate and comparatively I'M
ruEfled lives. Mr.. ColIax has always been
oil temperate habits, and, at the time o.
his attack, nothing had happened to dis
turb the sunny temper his life, the Mobi
lier troubles and cxcitements having come
upon him later. Senator Wilson Is Of
temperate, regular habits, and his appear.
ance has always indicated high health
and buoyaut spirits. Walt Whitman,
philosopher in mental and physical habits,
abstCmious, slow in speech, gait, and life
generally; tho picture Of rosy, sturdy
health-he, too, Is stricken down In mo-
ment from his superb manhood. And SO
on through the list; there seems 10 be no
special reason In the lie and surroundings
Of tho victims why they should be singled
out. Cannot the doctors put their heads
together and give US some clue 10 the
cause why paralysis is gaining ground 80
rapidly in this country"
To which the New York Graphic adds:
"Thc condition OF things here alluded to
isindced alarming, but 1t were well to put
the saddle on the right horse. 1t Is true
some cases Of brain and nervous disease
rs OF all other mRladies, result from
very strong hereditary predisposition.
Then there seems to have been lurking
virus in the air Of late years more than
usual. But in by far tho most CaSes-Rnd
we include those mentioned in the extract
among the number-paralysis may be
called the duo result (sOmetimes long
postponed, 1t Is true,) OF tho patients own
course OF life, perhaps OfGrdent intentions
in a legitimate or commendable cause,
but oftener OF recklessness and ola per-
sistcuCe in continued strain or excess.
all who were inside the scenes know that
the last year of Mr.. Greeley's lie was
simply the burning Of constant and copi-
GUS mental flame, without the furnishing
or assimilation Of any physical fuel to
supply it. Walt Whitman's present sick.
ness is the legacy Of severe malariaI
fever contr acted In the army hospitals al
the close OF the war, and is, in fact, the
result of obstinately imagining that h
could stand any pressure whatever with
impunity. Judge Chase's and Messrs
COltaX's, Brownlow's, and Morton's cases
are undoubtedly each and all regular IL
Illustrations Of those laws Of disease thai
have been fifty called only the other side
OF the laws OF health.
"a thousand points might be made and
thousand needed hints given to Ameri'
can readers on this whole subject. The
simple matter Of regular and normal d.
gestion, the base and sine qua non o.
health, Is almost entirely neglected In TIT
United States, partly from ignorance, anG
lin its indispensable rCquisitcs) largely
from a morbid modesty, and from defiG
ienc,es in the domestic architecture. How
much Of paralysis itself-as Of the lonl
and horrible train Of nervous and braiE
discases-takes It's beginning and lays II
foundation IN this very particular Es