The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-11-29

NBUIk9 Eu' DculuN ENGh LULA pulhlClhui
says through the London Jou7lalcf Science,
that American nervousness, during the
past half century, has expressed itself by a
large variety Of symptoms, n number Of
which are so frequent, so positive in their
character, and so important that they
have given names to diseases, and are
known as such. The conditions which
constitute the family OF nervous diseases
are most abundant, most severe and most
varied in their manifestations in the
northern part Of the United States, III.
though they ere found in, and are now cx.
tending to, England and the continent Of
Europe.
The ancients had few cases Of nervous
disease, and the moderns knew little
about it until the present century. The
scientific proofs Of the unprecedented
nervousness Of Americans during this gen.
Grafton are numerous, and among them
is the increased sensitiveness to cold and
heat, which is observed among all our
brain.working classes. Our fathers were
content with a temperature OF GO degrees
i. To be comfortable We must have q
temperature Of at least 20 degrees; and
many keep their rooms at even a higher
temperature. In other words, We are ten
degrees more sensitive 10 heat and cold
than our fathers were. Our summcrs are
no warmer, but the cases Of sunstroke arc
wideIyOut Of proportion to the increase
in our population.
DeliCacy OF digestion Is one Of the best.
known and tlrst.observed effects Of civil.
Eation upon the nervous system. Among
tho bran.working classes Of all our great
cities, pork, in all its varieties and prcpar.
atoms, has taken a subordinate place
among the meats upon our tables, for the
reason that tho stomach Of the brain.
worker can not digest 1t. It was almost
the only dependence oil our fathers, who
could eat 1t freely. The eyes, also, are
good barometers Of our nervous sivilizn.
lion. The increase Of the functional dis.
orders OF the eye Is demonstrated fact.
While there is more nervousness, long.
evity has also increased among the brain.
workers. These two apparently opposite
facts are harmonized by n third factor,
namely; that nervousness preserves the
system from attacks Of acute inilammatory
disease.
The primary cause Of tho increase Of
nervousness is unQuestionably civilization,
especially in Its recent accompaniment.
Is the telegraph. the railway and tho press.
These three institutions draw most sc.
yerely on the nerves Of nearly all classes,
out particularly upon those who are "a.
vored with education. They have inten.
Iitied In ten thousand ways cerebral activ-
ity and worry. These factors Of Civiliza.
lion apply to Europe as well as America.
But We are yet face to face with this Ques.
ton: Why are the Americans more ner-
Tous than any other people on this planet?
The answer is TO be found mainly in the
dryness Of our atmosphere and in the ex-
tremcs Of heat and cold. In these two
respects America differs from any other
civilized country.
Dryness Of atmosphere, by absorbing
the moisture Of the body, causes people to
literally dry up. Dry air also prevents the
electricity Of the body from being con.
Quoted away, and thus we become cxces.
sively charged with that force, aud Cxces.
sively stimulated by its confinement in
the body. The bitterness Of our winters,
contrasted with the heat Of our summers,
excites nervousness by ovcstimulation,
The application Of latent heat aud cold, MS
ice in hot water, Is one Of tho most power.
full means OF local stimulation that there Is
in medicine. To this treatment nearly all
Of the American people in the northern
aud eastern sections arc continually sub.
jeCted, On account Of the more moist and
uniform climate, nervous diseases Of near.
Iy all kinds diminish in frequency as we
90 South.
Schools, newspapers, the excitement Of
elections, reform, REVEALS, ETC., are the re.
suits Of climate and race, and are also to
DO included among the causes OF nervous.
ness, Work Is really u modern institu.
ton. Civilization is burdened with inlor.
nation that It must acquire. Every year
history raises up new facts that tho school.
10y OF the future must commit and recIto.
lie Greek boys lie was poem, per.
PC,uAl picnic. OF study and toll, TO
which the New York boy Is early trained
be knew nothing. The rApidity OF Amer.
lean life has tendency TO concentrate m
enormous amount Of activity into briel
space Of time, and American nervousness,
Is complex resultant Of q number Of FAC.
toB-not single result Of one.
In the treatment otnervuus diseases tho
oil patients must be studied
with all energy. 4 diagnosis must be
made Of the intellectual character "a well
o. Of the disease before n plan OF trent.
ment can DO adopted. There are those
whose minds are so organized, which mi |,
some qualities and have excuses OF other
usually a prepondVranCe Of the emo.
tiGnAl, with deficiency Of the higher in.
teiIectual Qualities-that they acL badly
under any treatment, however wise 4
some patients take pleasure In their dis.
ueSsesi II would DO cruel to cure them;
thetr pains are their possessions. ANY
man wishing to make them well would %
no better than a thief or robber. There
are those whose chief felicity consists in
NGctOring and being doctored, and to
whom the removal Of their hnllilN lila