The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-12-02

race many men Of hale constitutions
whose confidence in their health is so
great that they take no precautions
to preserve it. Perhaps it would be
more accurate to say, that hereditary
disease, except occasionally, in some
forms, does not necessarily condemn
the inheritOr to death but that Ma.
ture imposes upon such a more strict
conformity with her laws, and to
snch as obey, she will grant dura
ton OF life approximating to the
average.
Our ancestors were not perfect peO-
pie. They were ignorant of the laws
of hygiene prevalent at the present
day. Ventilation was unknown ex-
cept by the unconscious use of the
old fashioned fire places, which are
coming into vogue again. though it is
difficult to say, whether for ornament
or use. Most OF them lived where
malaria was prevalent. an incident of
most new countries. Diseases and
sickness were as frequent then as
now, and if | am not mistaken,
death more frequent in proportion to
the population. The doctors saddle.
bags in those days were filled with
mercury, wherewith the stomachs of
all patients were filled, regardless of
the nature of the disease or cOnse-
luences, but il is safe to say, that
those who survived were salamander
proof against poison. The men of
old were addicted to the excessive
use of intoxicating drink-there were
no temperance people then to tell
them better-and were given to some
extraordinary physical vices in extra
ordinary excess. There were some
cOmpensations, however; they ate
coarse and wholesome food, when
they could get enough of it, and the
luXuries of the present day were not
then in use.
A horrible disease which had it's
origin in a social vice made prevalent
in the West Indies by the presence of
the Spaniards there. was brought
from thence to Spain soon after Co.
lumbus discovered America, and
spread like an epidemic all over Eu.
rope, assailing the high and the low,
the rich and the poor, and sweeping
hundreds of thousands into untimely
graves. Its march was not along the
great lines of trade like that of Asiatic
cholera, but unbrOken and all.embra-
cling, covering the entire continent.
The universal prevalence of the dis
ease manifested the universal preva-
lence of the vice. And yet, while
History gives us these facts in loath.
some detail, it does not record that
the succeeding generation was any
feebler in mind or body than their an.
cestors. Doubtless it left its traces
and entailed suffering for few gene.
rations; but Nature finally rehabili-
tated the race and logged it along to.
wards its destiny.
There may be exceptions to the rule
that disease incorporated in the blood
is transmissib!e to posterity posi-
bly,, not in all cases do the prOcrea.
tive elements become impregnated
with the virus {; and sometimes, when
they do become so impregnated, it
may be that Nature in her constant
and loving solicitude for Humanity,
by some subtitle alchemy, eliminates
the poison before it becomes incorpo.
rate with the living form. The en-
virOnment, the conditions which sur
round the inherited disease. are nor
mally healthy, and it must eventually
succumb to the law of its environ
ment, and, ut times, it may succumb
at an early stage and the mischief lie
precluded and while it is true, as a
rule, that the iniquity OF the fathers
is visited upon the children unto the
third and fourth generation, it may
| he true that some sins are expiated
for, so far as they can be by plIysica.
suffering, in the life of the sinner.
1t is quite possible that a child,
with a strong tendency to disease in.
heritable from one or both parents,
may. by the free use Of the pure ele-
ments which Nature has so bounti-
fully given. be strong, healthy and
capable of long life. One instance
came under my own observation years
ago: both parents were affected by
| phthisiS, one, however, but slightly.
1t was Il large family of children, and
| the conditions of as robust health as
ever witnessed-were plenty Of MI.
tritious but not delicate food, pure
air, good water, free exercise, II com.
Portable and we'll ventilated house,
and TO medicine, though the father
was a physician. When ] last knew
this family two of them had grown to
mans estate; and / am inclined to
think that if they continue to observe
the laws of health, Nature will great
~ assist them in their struggle for
existence and will pull them through
a long life, if it is a possible thing.
A suitable adaptation in marriage
will no doubt very rapidly hasten the
flight of inherited disease; and the
sum OF all my poor pedantry upon this
topic is, that Nature will. in time,
forgive the children for the sins of
their forefathers, If they are willing
to accept her conditions and that
the conditions of the salvation which
she offers are dictated by merciful
laws, are ineligible, easily under.
stood and easily followed.
In relation to the third cause of the
origin of disease, that of mans en-
vironment, or the conditions of soil,
water, air and diet which surround
him, land here we might include many
circumstances of life which affect his
mind and spirits,) we will see that the
principles here governing are but an
adaptation of Darwin's law of the in
fiuence of surrounding circumstances
Oh living organisms.
This influence in relation to disease
l apprehend to be two fold:
First-The environment often spon-
taneously produces disease.
SecOnd-Differences in the nature
of the environment produce varieties
in the form, type, phase and maligni.
ty Of the disease.
Even ignorant people know that a
swamp, standing pool, u well filed
with surface water, damp cellar,
and the presence of decaying vege
table or'animal matter and many other
circumstances will produce disease.
I do not positively know whether /
state the experience of physicians
but il we follow out Darwln's law to
its necessary conclusions, the same
disease will assume different forms
and varying types Of malignity in diff.
ferent localities, on account of diff.
ferences in the environment produc.
ing or affecting the disease. Typhoid
fever may, for instance, take on one
phase in Minnesota and another phase
in Michigan. Diphtheria may be
more virulent in Mankato than Saint
Peter, or uice versa. The skill of the
physician may, at times, be complete.
ly baffled by an entirely new phase of
| well.known disease; but the type
and malignity of disease prevalent
In any ona locality and nnder the