Martinsburg weekly independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1873-1875, 1874-07-04
BODILY HEALTH.
Is the Physical Character OF Amerf-
cans Deteriorating.
From the New York Timesl

sachusetts Medical Society, at Bos-
/ ton, some time since. The entire
production was of highly
thoughtful and suggestive charac-
ter. DR.. Aliens remarks upon the
change which X coming over the
organization of the people of New
England are especially worthy of
attention. Touching, as they do,
with great frankness and vigor up
on the debated question of the al
lleged deterioration of physical typo
which attends the reproduction of
European races on this continent,
they possess an interest much be-
yond the limited circle to which
they are Immediately addressed.
The data solving the problem are
much more abundant in New Eng
land than elsewhere, and the con-
illusions which skilled observers
draw from them are consequently
of great value.
In the first place, DR.. Allen finds,
and he appeals to the medical pro-
fession Of Massaennsetts 10 bear
out his statements, that The type
and character Of diseases are chang
ing. Instead of the acute disorders,
violent attacks aud highly inflam
matory manifestations of disease
with which the last generation or
two was familiar, the physicians of
to-day have mainly 10 deal with
chronic complaints arising from
general debility, Indigestion, and
morbid conditions of the blood or
nervous system. DR. Allen leads
us to infer that the venesection,
powerful medicines, and other she
oric remedies of the old school
have given place to the tonic and
soothing treatment of contempor-
airy practice, quite as much in con-
sequence of the altered type of Iii.
sease as Of any advance in medical
knowledge He states that the
change in the bodily disorders of
this generation indicates "the ex-
istence of less muscle--moren nerve
less physical vitality-morenerv-
Gus energy-less power of endur-
ance, but more mental activity
He finds this conclusion borne out
by the changes to which anatomy
and physiology bear witness. The
framework of the body is not so
large, so compact, nor SO well pro-
pOrtioned as it used to be The
physical texture is more delicate
and refined, the countenance paler
and the features more pointed than
heretofore. Facial expression has
CARED in intelligence, but lost in
healthfulness the brain is becom-
ing developed at the expense of the
rest of the body; the nervous tenn
permanent is assuming an un-
healthy predominance. Hence the
greater frequency of disorders OF
the nervous system, OF sudden
deaths from apoplexy, paralysis,
and heart disease. The average
duration of human life has been
heightened by the greater atten-
ton paid by communities to n.y.
gienic laws, by diminished expos
ure to the elements consequent
upon the altered conditions of mod
ern society, and by the advance in
the curative appliances OF medi-
cine; but the average vitality or
stamina of the race is being low
cred from variety of other causes
which receive too little attention.
DR.. Allen thinks that the opera
| ton of these causes can be traced
| for two or three generations back.
! Among them he enumerateS the
prevalence ofindoor employmcnts
and the neglect to counteract the
effect of these by muscular recrea-
ton :.the increased strife and com
petition of business; more artifi-
cial modes of living, and less
healthy styles Of dress; the high
temperature maintained in dwell
ings, and the over stimuIated ac-
ton of the brain from the school
room upward into most of the en-
plOyments Of life. Such OF these
causes rs act uLon the female con-
stitution have directly impaired
the vitality 0 the offspring, be
sides impairing the maternal pow
or Of sustenance. While the strain
of modern life continues to increase
each successive generation sends
men and women into the world
less fitted to bear that strain.
For evils SO complex it is hard
to define any comprehensive rem
edy or remedies DIR. Allen takes
up safe and sensible ground in de-
manding that reform should begin
in the school-room. Mental Gull
ture must be pursued with con-
slant reference to physiological
laws, otherwise the system of sac
rificing the training of the body to