The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1880-06-30
Diseases of the Heart.
BY Y. CLARENCE PRICE, NJ. d.

cavities: It's right and left aurlcle or
mus cular bag and right and left ven-
trical or cavity. 1t is considered
the centre of circulation. Of its
muscular power we may have some
conception when we consider that in
man the whole quantity of blood is
estimated at about % pounds, ami
that at every pulsation, (which, if
regular, is about rs per minute), an
ounce of blood passes through it..
Upon this calculation pounds and
8 ounces of blood pass through the
heart TO the lungs every minute Of
our lives, (this assertion is, however,
made on mere cenjecture.) 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 its structure, we find, as in
despensible 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 op-
erat1ons to be the vital organ, which,
by its energy and action, gives to
every fibre of the frame 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 in
dubitable 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
is no disease to which the human
frame is subject, more intense and
violent than functional affection of
the heart; and, indeed, so dreadful
are some of the sensations attending
it, that patient laboring under it's
influence, described it as dreadful
sensation, approaching to a feeling
of annihilation," far surprising any
degree of pain. l am not able here
to render complete analysis OF the
symptoms in attendance on this com.
plant, but will mention the more
prominent of them that occur in the
N Il cfo nf tho l,e,oea
An oppression and difficuity Of
breathing often amounting to suffo.
cation or feeling Of approaching
death. Sometimes pain is felt over
the region of the heart, palpitations,
rapid beating or fluttering motion, a
feeling of tightness across the chest
or distress with short breath, which
is increased upon exertion, especially
when walking on an ascent or going
up pair of stairs, headache, cold
hands and feet. face pale at times, at
other times flushed, giddiness, ring
ing or buzzing in the ear, faintness,
shivering, nose bleedings and numb
ress. The side over the region of
the heart sometimes enlarges, pulse
interrupted often stops beating for
some seconds, sleep confused and
painful, with unpleasant dreams and
sudden startlings. The patient is
restless, easily excited, and when SO,
often unable to speak, quickly IA
tigued, anxious and nervous. Pal
pitatious of the heart do not occur
in every case nor all of the above
symptoms, but more or less are
present in every case in the COM
mencement Of this disease, becoming
more and more dreadful as the dis
ease advances, terminating often
when the patient is feeling most we'll,
in sudden death. From the great
number of cases that we daily en-
counter we are fully convinced that
diseases Of the heart are next in fre-
quency to diseases of the lungs.
The incessant play of the passions,
which are exoitable to a high degree,
are calculated to produce many dis.
arrangements in the healthy action
of this organ. Whatever tends to
overwork the heart, thereby prodac-
ing Interruptions, also a diminution
of power, will occasion this disease,
as indulgence in intoxicating liquors,
long continued use of stimulants, to-
bacco, unnatural drains upon the sys.
tenn, rheumatism and other long
standing ailments, intense study,
mental depression, application of
the mind with little bodily exercise,
great anxiety to be rich, running in
debt, working, and fre:ting, trying
to pay interest, causing vexations,
trouble and disappointments, etc.
In the early period of this affection,
remedial agents can be used that
will arrest its progress. 1t is the
inability of the heart to circulate
blood with that freedom which the
animal economy requires, that is the
cause of diseases of the heart. And
with this view of the subject every
means should be used for the pur-
pose Of facilitating the circulation
of the blood" When the disease
has long been neglected and the
heart itself fixidly implicated. a, cure
is seldom if ever obtained: the DIS
ease most invariably has a sudden
and fatal termination. The neoessi-
ty of attending to the first symp-
toms OF disease so sure in its prog
ress to destroy life, cannot but be
seen by all. We are pursuing sys-
tenn of treatment for the cure of all
chronic Complaints that is of far
different character from that usually
entertained-one which cannot fail
to recommend itself to every un-