Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-08-22
Duly &errrrebtf J0urnal
Augusta. Monday nsr.ine, Aug. a.


Dyspepsia and the President.
Because dyspepsia is rendering the case
o. the President more affecting and doubt
full, we are not therefore to conclude that
dyspepsia is national disease. Presidents
are NOT more exempt from disease than
other persons. Nevertheless it seems
to be true that dyspepsia is a common dis
ease in this country. to which the case of
the President may quite naturally call at
tention.
The Providence Journal in recent ar
ticle presents some ideas upon this subject
WORTHY OF notice. "As race" it says.
1--WE are still subject to dyspeptic weak
ness, and still to- Indifferent TO the laws
of health in regard to food. The disease
is not fatal one. and may be concomitant
with strength and long lite. There is still
sort Of belief that it is effeminate TO pay
any regard to the stomach, or To submit
to regimen, when nothing apparently
results, but an occasional attack Of nausea
and chronic. but hardly understood dis
comfort. Bnt a weakness in the stomach
is a flaw in whole system, which may
be fatal under sudden shock or be worn
out under ng-continued and extraordi-
nary demand. This has made itself pain
fully apparent in the case Of President Gar
field. With all his splendid physique
and great strength. he has been afflicted
with weak stomach, perhaps something
from hereditary dyspepsia. something
from the malaria and rude fare of army
experience. and something from the hab-
It's of vigorous labor not sufficiently
changed to meet sedcntary occupation.
The stomach has betrayed him. 1t was
the first to manifest its weakness OF all the
organs under the shock of the wound, and
II has remained irritable and weak, irreg-
u,ar in its demands and imperfect in its
functions. under the stress Of the disorgan-
ixa,ion of the system and the drain Of
strength from suppurating wound. 1t
has been the real source OF danger more
than any other effect Of the assassin 8
bullet. and it has caused these hours and
days Of suspense. when the beloved life
has been hanging upon thread. Wheth-
or the physicians have had sufficient
knowledge or exercised sufficient care in
regard to the weakened organ is a matter
or medical judgment. and we feel no de-
sire 10 criticise. whatever doubts are in
evitable.
But this as pcct of the Presidents case.
so unfortunate in its individual relations,
is one OF warning in regard to a national
and hereditary weakness. and especially
so to those who endure with carelessness
or continue by negligence, an invitation
to disease and source OF weakness under
the shock Of accident or the attack of in
lection, because it manifests itself under
normal conditions only by occasional or
slight discomfort. The American people
as we'll as individuals need more
thorough understanding and intelligent
resistance TO the injurious effects of an
hereditary weakness and an hereditary
predisposition. and the warning is
brought home to them by the near
ness Of individual loss and the dread of
a national calamity in the struggle which
the President has been compelled to make
in the confines of death. with no other
weakness of body and every force of a
strong and equable mind. Great as is the
anxiety. the warning effect should not be
lost upon the national understanding
Some physician has said that dyspepsia is
disgrace like deirium tremens but that
was, of course. only his way of being EN-
phatic. and half hundred innocent causes
may produce It in an individual; but that
IL is national and hereditary weakness.
deserving special consideration and re-
form. is evident from general knowledge
as well as medical report, and it is to be
hoped that the process of its eradication
by more healthy living has fairly begun"
Another FalschOOd Answered.