Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1873-07-23
INCREASE 4 & OF PARALYSIS. r

It viii prODabIY Do uotn1ng new %
our readers to say that 9 wide and
anxious interest exists AL through
the country, and especially the Mid.
die States, from the marked and
steady Increase Of paralysis, apoplexy,
and the various forms of brain and
nervous diseases. The 2pring6eId
Republican says: 'tiViee- President
WILSON has passed into that stage OF
health which Mr.. Chase 80 long occu.
pied--a paraIytIe invalid, 10 whom
4 life Is fthe most uncertain duration.
On which the Waahington Evening
Star comments as follows: ls..ih
ave noted some time ago the
alarming fact that 30 many prcmi-
nent men were being stricken down
with paralysis, and the caselof Vice
President Wilson adds another to
the long list then presented, which
embraced TIE names OF Chief Justice
Chase, Senator Morton, Mr.. Colfax.
Senator Brownlow, Walt Whitman,
Horace Greeley, &c. The cases OF
prominent public men attract more
attention, but physicians cay that
paralysis is notably on the increase
among all Glasses OF the American
people. The question rises II It is
getfing to be a national disease; and
II so, the cause Of 1t. f..-r
'it'I In France or Paris, where paraly-
sis Is getting TO be familiar disease,
the cause has been attributed TO life
of excitement, the use Of .absynthe,
&c, But Ii win be noticed that the
larger portion ofour paralyties are Of
temperate and ,unruf1ed lives. Mr..
Colfax has always been OF temperate
habits, aud, at the time OF his attack,
nothing had happened to disturb the
sunny tenor Of his life, the Mooilief
troubles and excitement having come
upon him later. Senator Wilson, Is
Of temperate, regular habits, and bis
appearance has always indicated high
health and buoyant spirits. Walt
Whitman, 8 philosopher, In mental
and physical habits abstemious, slow
IN speech, gait. and life generally
the picture Of rosy, sturdy health
he, too, Is stricken down in q moment
from his superb manhood p lyt .l..e
Willing to aid in calling attention
to the enormous increase ofparalysis,
we can not agree with the"no specia
rsssonH theory referred 10 BY the
Washington Star. The truth ID, Of
course, that the cases OF all those per-
sons, in private or public station.
''singled outp IN the midst Of appa'
rent health for sudden attack are
generally the result OF 3 series Of
violations or persistent neglect OF
physioloeical Jaws. CHIEF Justice
Chase was pefen ptorily warned sOu1e
Year, since, BY his physician, 70 rs,
Iiexe himself from all strain npOn his
physical and mental snefgiesr and
was hold he Rasi like an old carriage
that eoald 20. for many a year yet.
with care, lUpon 3 Hm0oth road, but
would soon be destroyed 90 \ rough
one.n Vice President Wilson, for
four or i've months before the last
presfdentiaf election, subjected him.
Self, without intefmlsslon, mentally
and physically, 10 rats of speed and
change and q degree Of pressure which
has since had to be paid for, rs was 70
be expected, Walt Whitman, disre-
garding medical caution, continued
Yielding his iron physique, month AZ.
ter month, 70 the subtlest malaria OF
the army hospitals years ago, and To-
day he is paying the penalty. Horace
Greeley lived such q life that Tor nj
teen years before his death, It is be-
lieved that be did not know what 1t
was to have good nights sleep. /.
The si9nffeant Lesson taught by
ell the instances mentioned b -thata
while afterward, sometimes months,
sometimes even years, the stern PEN
atty will Be exActedUthat good inten-
tions and high ambif lon or endeayor
do not excuse 1lapses OF the IndisputA-
Die laws Of health and that being
borne Through Tor the time by reserv-
ed force, maturity or q strong will.
may prove but sad delnslon- !. &. ~
y The subject needs volumes for its
due elucidation; but enough Il above
stated to rouse the reader 70 giye it
what it most needs-the1ghs for his
or her own case. - Phfs Isd0er. O.
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