Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1875-05-27
WHAT APOPLEXY DOES.

A very interesting article in the Pop
alar Science Monthly says: If there il
any one disease that the diligent brain.
worker little past middle life has rea-
son to fear, it is apoplexy. Although
statistical evidence is wanting, the ex-
perience of the physician confirms the
popular belief that more of our distin-
guished men are carried off BY this
disease, or by one Of its sequels, paraly-
sis, than by any other cause. There
are ac vessels carrying blood to and
from the various organs of the body
which SO frequently rupture as those in
the brain. The causes that produce
this result are the fatty degeneracy of
the middle arterial coat Of the cerebral
vessels. whereby their elastic strength
is much impaired, the great Irregular.
ty of blood distribution to the contents
of.the Uranium and the little support
which the pulpy substance of the brain
gives to the weakened vessels imbedded
in it. The chief causes which produce
this structural change are the habitual
use Of ardent spirits and tobacco. Ev-
cry one is aware that the leading effects
of these agents on the body are such as
show that the functions Of the nervous
system are more affected than any 9TH
or, and the physician also knows that
when the symptoms Of disorder arise
from their use they are such rs denote
that the nervous system is almost alone
implicated.
Ardent spirits also tend to produce
an overfullness of the cerebral vessels,
and to affect the functions Of the brain
in q manner which strangely blend stu
pidity, brightness, and exhilaration.-
Effects so unnatural and so frequently
ending in disease, influence injuriously
the nutrition of the nervous centers.-
And to interfere with the nutrition of
any part Of the body is simply to i'm
pair the life and power of its structure.
The evidences of this impairment may
not be felt Immediately. In fact the
evidences Of impairment by any bad
habit are seldom apparent during the
prime of youthful vigor. But the mis-
chief is going on, nevertheless, and the
organ upon which the weight of in
fringement falls will be the one that
will 6rst manifest signs Of disease, and
through which death will make its con-
quest over the body.
During sleep the brain is almost
bloodless; its substance seems to shrink
into lifeless mass; but the moment
that wakefu!ness occurs it swells out,
gets red. its arteries and veins becom-
ing distended with great tide of blood.
No other part of the body is subject to
such droughts and foods in its circula-
ton. This inequality is still further
increased by severe mind labor. The
ardent student is well aware that deep
thought heats the head and cools the
feet. The FIRST apoplectic stroke, as a
rule, is not severe one; q little blood
escapes by tiny rent, the shock to the
system slows the action of the heart
the escape of blood ceases, and nature
heals the part torn and removes the
blood-clot by absorption. Then, rs the
blood vessels in the brain grow weaker,
under a greater tension than ordinary,
q larger rent is made, allowing the blood
TO escape in hopeless profusion. Napo.
leon stood in great dread of this disease,
and was told by his medical adviser
''Sire, the first attack is q warning, the
second q summons, the third 8 sum-
mons to execution"
What is to be done BY those who in
herit tendency to apoplexy or whose
habits Of life predispose them to this
disease? Clearly to diminish and keep
the tension on these vessels by the blood
as low rate at all time. A prudent
fire-engineer, when his water hose are
old and weak, would work them at a
low pressure. Men must carry out the
same simple mechanical principle, when
there is reason to believe that the ves-
sells of the brain are getting weak and
brittle. A stroke Of apoplexy occur.
frequently after eating full meal
As soon as old age puts q decided
check on the amount of daily exercise,
il in time to put decided check on the
amount Of food daily consumed. This
kind Of food best adapted to keep dowr
superfiuous blood is the vegetable
The true rule is not to eat to entire sa.
tiety. Even those Of youngery years and
sedentary habits will feel lighter ant
better in every way BY leaving the table
. little hungry.