The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1877-02-08
Causes Of the Increase Of Nervous Dis
eases.

There is a general belief on the part OF
physicians that nervous diseases are on
the increase, and a strong suspicion
among many Of them that insanity IL
growing in prevalence.
There is little doubt but that the i'm
mense and augmented use Of alcohol and
tobacco has much more 10 do with these
facts-for facts wo hold them 10 be-
than the mueh-talked-of pressure Of mod
ern life, competition, over brAinwork, etc.
Insanity from alcohol IL observed where
this competition IL at a minimum. In
Guiana, for instance. DR.. j. 5. Donald,
in a late article on lunacy there Gin the
Journal Of Mental Science), observes -
with regard 10 the etilogy Of insanity
in this colony, ] cannot say that lind IL
in any way depending on, or modified by.
the nature Of the climate. One Of the
most fertile causes is intemperance. /
have noticed this more particularly
among Creoles and Portuguese. and in
many cases have beel able 10 trace al.
cohol as the direct agent
Among the lower classes rum Il
mostly used, and frequently ia the form
OF high wines. rum 40 over proof II can
easily be understood that this in time
seriously interferes with the bodily
health, and, acting as poison, eventu.
ally produces cerebral LESSONS"
Not less certain is Il that tobacco
brings about the same result. Some yeas
ago the Franch government directed the
attention Of the Academy Of Medicine al
Paris TO this subject A scientific sta.
tistician with an imperial commission
was empowered to collect facts and data
for a report. and a commission was appoint
ed TO enquire into the influence Of tobacco
on the human system. The report sta
ted that a large number Of the diseases
Of the nervous system and OF the heart
noticed in the cases Of those affected
with paralysis or insanity. were 10 bo re-
garded as the sequence OF excessive in
dulgence in the use OF tobacco. NJ. Jolly
said that tobacco seems primarily 10 act
upon the organic nervous system, do
pressing the faculties and influencing the
nutrition OF the body, the circulation Of
the blood, and the number OF red
corpuscles in the blood" Attention was
also called to the bad digestion, benumb-
ed intelligence and clouded memory Of
those who used tobacco to excess
DR.. B. w Richardson. Of London. ob.
serves that smoking produces disturb
ance Of the blood Of the stomach, heart,
and brain. Of the organs Of sense, and Of
the nervous hlaments Of the synpathetio
and organic nerves" Again be states
that tobacco smoking arrests oxygena.
ton Of the blood. and thus interferes
with the full development Of the struc.
lures Of the body, especially in the
young"
For all this. IL is ominous TO note that
in Great Britain, from every fresh return
compiled, the use Of tobacco 10 fast In
creasing. even when due allowance 10
made for increase Of population. A re.
cent report Of the Inland Revenue Com
missioners shows that in the year ls4l.
%. .096, ,2Sl lbs. weight was cleared in the
United Kingdom, giving l3i OF. per head
Of the population while In the year
1874 the weight cleared was 6.99l 800
lbs, being at the rate Of ID. 7 ozs. per
head.
In the United States, France. and Ger.
many, the safe is appareat
In this connection IL 10 noteworthy
that DR.. A. +. w. Lyle states, In the
Cincinnati Lancet and Observer. that sas-
safras oounteracts the injurious effects of
tobacco on the nervous system. This.
he adds, was first pointed out by Dr.
Of Nashville, Tenn. A few
drops Of oil OF sassafras, mixed with
will. he asserts. render IL inocu.
ous.-[ Medical and Surgical Reporter.