The Morning herald., 1877-09-19
WHAT KILLS.


WHAT KILLS. , |
In DR.. Carpenters "Diseases Incident to
Modern Liis' II is shown that worry and
mental strain" are the two most potent
causes Of the premature decay and death
Of the business and professional men Of the
present day. Among them the nataral
struggle for existence takes the immed'a.s1
form Of struggle for wealth; brain 'sI
matched against brain instead OF Drawn
.paiSst brawn the outside show Of riches
has ID b. maintained even when the sub
stance il lsckihs. To prevent failure and
shame, which are ever standing like spec
tres before hin, tue man redoubles his ex-
ertions until finally, and apparently with
out premonition, the strain to which all his
mental faculties have been subjected snaps
them; his brain gives way and he'becomes
either 1 hopeless imbecile, dragging out
helpless years, or tumbles at once headlong
into the grave. ''r }
Asa rule, however, it is not true thathis
final fate comes without warning. The
same nervousness which marked the last
DAYS II N. Thiers comes upon him; the
slightest interruption or the most trivial
accident annoys him occurrences which
would have been wholly Indifferent to him
ten years ago throw him into an ecstasy OF
rage now he becomes morose and peev-
ish. suspicious Of others and timorous IN
regard 10 himself. Perhaps he feels that
he is Filling, but the pressure Of business
upon him is so great that he will not
he thinks that he cannot afford to-take
needed rest and recreation. The critical
period in th. lite Of men who work with
their brains is said BY DR.. Carpenter to be
bstwsen the ages Of thirty.6ve and forty,
and in an ideally ordered life this would
be the very time in which the ambitious
should, awake TO exertion and the most
strenuous and healthy exertions be put
forth. Unnsrpily it is then that the mod
ern man begins to break down. He hat
already worked too hard he has beer
drawing on the principal Of his life; moi
living nationally on the interest doled ou
to him year after year; he has forecast hi
days and 10 In imminent peril. In th'
daily reaction from overwork of which HI
n conscious he takes to stimulants which
rive him temporary relief, and next-an'
worst Of allLhe attempts to work Will
under their influence. Thus the candle O
his life is burned at both ends, and il in
far way toward a very speedy extinguish
ment.
In this condition the patient, now reall
4 patient fit for the doctors, is commonl
not aware Of his critical condition. Ger
orally he feels we'll, but even with the col
slant use Of stimulants there come periot
when he seems to himself to be utterly an
completely used up. Instead Of takir
rest he takes a drink or sits down with ia
ti,ious sturdines at his work again. Sot
the heart, that noble and much endsrii
organ, loses = beat occasionally. Its sy
tuls and dinstole are not those Of q hesltl
man the parts Of the nervous syste
upon which its action depends are ipjure
Fssr and anxiety cause irregular action
the heart, and irregular actiou Of the he's
csuses anxiety and fear. The forces Ii
work for death are in theirgreat advanta
now, and presently the man breaks up q
becomes either corpse or living wret
Premoaitions such As DR.. Carpen
points out it is necessary for the man v
!, liable to the diseases peculiarly incidt
to modern lie to note and accept as wal
inss If he would not finally succumb to
destruction TO which they point Bew'
OF nervousness. When things which
man knows to be trivial assume such p
portions ~ 10 throw him completely {
habiluslly of his balance, it necessal
shows weakness within him which, if it
not constitutional and hereditary, is v
likely to foreshadow danger.
Under the luxurious reign Of the Ces
music attained unusual prominence
Rome, but it was still the music Of Writ