Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1879-05-08
Diseases of the Heart.

conception when we consider that
in man the whole quantity of blood
is estimated at about IS pounds, and
that at every pulsation, (Which, if
regular, is about IS per minute4, an
ounce Of blood passes Though it.
Upon this calculation 6 pounds and
ounces OF blood pass through the
heart to the lungs every minute of
our lives, Ithis assertion is, however,
made on mere conjecture.) 1t is
very certain that all the blood in the
body passes through the heart and
lungs at least every ten minutes
six times in every hour-and, upon
an average, IA times every twenty
four hours, from our earliest infancy
to decrepit and childish old age.
In every piece of mechanical in
genuity, however simple or complex
may be it's structure, we find, as in
dispensible to the whole, at least
one great point Of attraction or re-
pulsion; SO in the human frame we
designate the heart, in its simple OPP
Grafton to be the vital organ, which
by its energy and action, gives TO
every fibre OF the frame a principle
peculiar to its immediate function.
1t is the constant spring, or fountain,
which, emptying itself into those
thousand little streams of the body
traverses the whole system and i'm
parts that vigor and animation so
indubitable to the maintenance and
support of life. This central organ
this sole power-Which circulates
the blood, is as liable to disease as
the other organs Of the body. There
1 is no disease to which the human
frame is subject, more intense and
violent than a functional affection Of
the heart; and, indeed, 50 dreadful
are some Of the sensations attending
it, that a patient laboring under its
influence; described it as a dreadful
sensation approaching to feeling
Of annihilation," far surprising any
degree of pain. l am not able here
to render a complete anal sis of the
symptoms in attendance on this com
plant, but will mention the more
prominent of them that occur i'll the
early stages of disease,
An oppression and difficulty Of
breathing often amounting to suffo-
cation or feeling of approaching
death. Sometimes pain is felt
over the region of the heart, paipita-
tons, rapid beating Or futterihg mo-
ton, a feeling of tightness across the
chest or distress with short breath,
which is increased upon exertion,
especially when walking on an as
cent or going up a pair of stairs,
headache, cold feet and hands, face
pale at times, at other times flushed,
giddiness, ringing or buzzing in the
ear, faintness, shivering, nose-bleed
ing and numbness. The side over
the region Of the heart sometimes
enlarges, pulse Interrupted, often
stops beating for some seconds, sleep
confused and painful, with unpleas
ant dreams and sudden startings.
The patient is restless, easily excit-
ed, and when so, often unable to
speak, quickly fatigued, anxious and
nervous. Palpitations of the heart
do not occur in every case nor all of
the above symptoms, bnt more or
less are present in every case in the
commencement Of this disease, be-
coming more and more dreadful as
the disease advances, terminating
often when the patient is feeling
most we'll, in sudden death. From
the great number of cases that we
daily encounter, we are fully con-
WINGED that diseases of the heart are
next in frequency to diseases of the
lungs.
The incessant play Of the passions,
which are excitable to high de-
gree, are calculated to produce ma
ny disarrangements in the healthy
action of this organ. Whatever
tends to overwork the heart, there
by producing Interruptions, also a
elimination of power, will occasion
this disease, as Indulgence in intoxi-
eating liquors, long continued use of
stimulants, tobacco, unnatural drains
upon the system, rheumatism and
other long standing aiIment, intense
study, mental depression, applica-
ton of the mind with little bodily
exercise, great anxiety to be rich,
! running in debt, working, and fret
ting, trying to pay interest, causing
vexations, trouble and disappoint-
ments, SC. Ip the early period Of
this affection, remedial agents can