Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-07-15
The Paralysis Question.

The Paralysis Question.
The article in this column lately upon the
alarming increase Of paralysis In this country
has raised something OF q discussion IN the
papers, and while the fact of the growth of this
disease is conceded, some of our contemporaries
seem to think the causes for IL are to be readily
found.
The Philadelphia Ledger, in copying the arti-
Gle, makes the following comments:
'"willing to aid in calling attention to the
enormous increase of paralysis, we cannot
sgree with the "no special reason" theory re-
ferred to by the Washington STAR. The truth
Is, Of course that the cases of all those persons
in private or public station, s'singled out" in
the midst Of apparent health for sudden attack
are generally the results Of a series of violations
or persistent neglect of physiological laws.
Cblef Justice Chase was peremptOrily warned
some years since by his physician, to relieve
himself from all strain upon his physical and
mental energies, and was told that he was ''like
an old carriage that could go for many
year yet, with care, upon a smooth road, but
would soon be destroyed on a rough one"
Vice President Wilson, for four or five months
before the last Presidential election, subjected
himself. without inter mission, mentally and
physically, to rate of speed and change and
degree OF pressure which has since had to be
paid tor, as was to be expected. Walt Whit
man, disregardIng medical caution, continued
yielding his iron physique, month after month,
to the subtIest malaria of the army hospitals
wears ago, and to-day he is paying the penalty.
Horace Greeley lived such a life that, for If
NCtH years ptIOTt MS uthI0. IL l. DtneVcQ that
he did net know what it was to have a good
nights sleep
"The significant lesson taught by all the in
stances mentioned Is that While afterward,
sometimes months, sometimes even years. the
stern penalty will be exaeteLi-that good inteu-
tons and high ambition or endeavOr do not ex-
cuse iaPses OF the indisputable laws of health,
and that being borne through for the time by
reserved force, maturity or a strong will, NAV
prove but q sad delusiOn."
Uron the same subject the New York Graphic
ssys:
a. The condition of things here alluded to is
indeed alarming, but ii were well to put the
saddle on the right horse. IL is true some cases
Of brain and nervous disease, as of ali other
maladies, result from very strong hereditary
predispOsltiOn. Then there seems to have been
a lurking virus in the air of late wears more
than usual. But in by far the most cases-and
We Include those mentioned in the extract
among amor me numoer-paralysis may be called
the due result sometimes long postponed it is
true,) OF the patients own course of life per-
haps of ardent intentions in legitimate or
commendabie cause, but oftener of recklessness
and OF persistence in continued strain or ex-
cess. a thousand points might be
made and thousand needed hints given to
American readers on this whole subject. The
simple matter OF regular and normal d gestion
the base and Stns qua non of health, is almost
entirely neglected in the United States, partly
iISm excess, partly from ignorance, and Gin its
bid modesty, and from deficiencies in the do
nestle architecture. How much of paralysis
ustll-ds OF tne long and horrible train of ner-
YOus and brain diseases-takes its beginning
lar 90
The Louisville Courie7-Jou7raaI holds tina. in
Temperance amongst our public men nav take
other forms than the use OF intoxicating drinks.
Ii SAYS:
"a contemporary, speaking of the large nur-
Der of prominent public men who have been
victims OF paralysis of late years, mentions the
names OF Vice President Wilson, Mr.. Chase
and NNnff
temperate habits should be stricken down nv
that insidious disease. There is a very preya-
lent error as to what constitutes temperance.
The popular idea Of temperance Is abstinence
fIOm intoxicating liquors. In this respect
Wilson, Colfax. and the other persons who are
named may be very temperate. But IL is often
he case that cold-water drinker is guilty of a
ptcies of intempersnce which Is no less on
posed TO the rules of health, and no less certain
o result IN premature decay and death, than
of our successful politicians and public men are
continuous round of excessive and unnatural
excitement, whose stimulus is as hurtful TO
mind and body as the stimulus of wine and
brandy. The moment public man appears to
strike vein of success and to be- as some
one has remarked, sin the line of safe
use him as a pack-h horse. This Is tgns who 20
Their he be religious or political celebrity
The men in his organization want to use him
Is almost always ready enough, If not eager, to
be paTaded before the public in every conceiy-
able way. He must write books, as Wilson and
ColfaN did; he must deliver Lectures, as they
did; be must contribute articles to newspapers,
he must be dragged into every canvass and
speak for weeks at a time almost daily from the
hustings- Douglas, q man Of great physical
strength and hne health, talked himself 20
death on the stump in the exciting Presidential
canvass OF 1870. Wilson was guilty of the same
lmprudence, and was, in this respect as intem-
perate as II he had INDUCED to excess in aico-
hoHc drinks. IL Is all mistake to saw of A man
VINO wastes himself away by continual round
OF Ieeturlng, book writing and political speech
making thar be leads q temperate life simply
because he does not drink alcoholic liouors
! here are many men who enroll their names on
heregister ola temperance society and keen
Their pledge so far as intoxicating drinks are
concerned, who nevertheless lead highly in
incorporate lives and die in conseousnce of
their own imprudence."
We may say in reference to the matter that
we have no special theory of our own to main
tain, but hope that sufficient attention will he
given to 1t to develop the cause Of the evil and
suggest a seasonable remedy.