The Daily Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Or.) 1876-1883, 1882-06-16
PRESENTISIENTS.
An Investigation of the Causes OF
These Dark Fareb0dinsS which
Make Powerful Men
Weak.

Golden Rulc.
Much apprehension has been Occa-
stoned throughout America from the
announcement made by Professor Proc
tor that the return in nineteen years of
the great comet OF last summer will
cause the destruction of the earth. But
while people are becoming so strangely
exercised over this announcement, an
event OF far more serious Importance
which Is taking place to-day. seems 10
be almost wholly overlooked. The nat
ure OF this most vital subject can be,
best explained by relating the following
experience.
Bishop Z. o. Haven. known 10 the en-
tire land. was unaccOuntably Wakened
one night out OF Il sound sleep. and lay
awake until morning. His mind seemed
unusually active. and ne not only re-
viewed his past life. which had been an
cvcntful one, but laid extensive plans
for the future. He did not feel especial
IL i'll. but could moi account for the I'M
usual activity of his brain. nor for the
reStleSsneSs which seemed 10 possess
him. In the morning he had hui little
appetite. but was apparently well in
ether respects. In Il few days. however,
he began to feel morbid and restless,
Tx II AZ
the feeling that had taken possession OF
him. But try as he would the shadow
0f some evil seemed 10 follow him, and
he was conscious OF gradual sinking
and wasting away of all his physical
faculties. He had been an earnest and
diligent worker. and in his zeal fire.
Qucntly oVer-taXed his strength. and be-
ing absorbed in his duties, failed 10 OBJ
serve the common symptoms with which
he was afflicted. thus permitting the
work of destruction to 90 on unheeded.
But the end finally came in Il most per-
e!nptOrV manner. Shortly before his
death lie wrote Il letter-the last one lie
ever indited-in which he speaks as fol
lows 4 belief that death Is near affects
different minds differently. but probably
all who are in fair condition of phys
icai and mental strength inStinciNeiy
shrink from il with an indeiinable
dreac Ond horror. \ dying man is no
more able of himself to foresee his own
destiny or the destiny of those he leaves
than he was before he began to die"
The recent sad and sudden death of
Hon. ClarkSon y Potter is one of the
most serious warnings ever given in the
long iist of innumcrab!e cases of fatal
neglect. 1t is not sufficient 10 say that
many other brilliant men, including Ev-
crcti. Sumner. Chase. Wood. Wilson
and Carpenter, were swept away by the
same fatal trouble. The question is.
were these men sufficiently careful Of
their health. and could they have been
saved? The Albany 1lglts. in speak
Ing of Mr POtter'S sudden illness and
death, says:
One OF the physicians who attended
Mr.. Potter here was interviewed last
evening. He stated that NJ. Pojter'S in
ability to converse had for some time
served 10 BATTLE the physicians III their
efforts 10 determine the root of his i'll
ness. 1t seems. however. that Mr.. Pot
ter. some two years ago. suffered a
slight attack Of kidney disease. UnwiSe
dependence upon a robust constitution
and naturally perfect heath, and neg
iect of proper clothing, doubtless Sowed
the seeds Of Il disease that needed but
some such personal neglect rs that Of
Tuesday morning 20 develop. From the
symptoms ut first shown it was Thought
! that his only trouble WAS q nervous
proStraiion: but his long continuance
| in Scmi-unconsciOuS state led 10 the
| belief that his Illness was seated in a
chronic difficulty more mysterious and
dangerous"
Up to the latter part of last year Mr..
| Edward I. Rock, Il member of the New
| York stock exchange, was doing buSl-
| ness in Wall street, New York. lie had
everything to encourage him and make
! life happy, but was the victim OF unac-
countablc uncaSincSS. His experience
as described by one who knew, was as
| follows: AT unexpected times and on
occasions when he had the greatest rca-
son to feel jOyOvS he was irritable and
! b.t,p4aJ vii n Str1pg,. fnnliOnS pf lis
! tent. He endeavored to check these
feelings and appear pleasant. but 1t re-
duircd Il great effort 10 do So; aftcI
which he would relapse into his former
morbid mood. This feeling continued
| for number of months. kwhcn he be
came conscious of an added sensation
of laSSitudc. He was tired even when
resting. and although experiencing nC
acute pain, had dull, aching sens aiiOns
j in his limbs and various parts Of his
body. Shortly afIerward his head begar
TO ache most frequently and his stomach
failed TO digest properly. Being tol,
that he was suffering from malaria, he
consulted an eminent physician who i'll
formed him that his kidneys wer'
Slightly affected, and gave him medi
cine 10 restore them. Bat he grew
worse instead of hetter. He then con
suited other eminent doctors of anOthe,
school and was informed that he had ;
brain difficulty somewhat in the naturt
OF tumOr, but in spite of all efforts t,
the contrary he continued to gr0y
worse. At this time his condition wa
terrible. What We're At first simple
symptoms had developed 10 terrible
troubles. He was flushed and fcYerish
l.cOnStantly uneasy, and yet always
Iweary. lie had an intense appetite on
daV and very little the next. His pulls
was irregular. his breathing labored
and every moment of existence was
burden. These disastrous symptom!
continued, his face and body Occam
discOlorCd. his heart was irregular in it
action. and his breath came III short
: c0nvulSiVe gaSps. lie grew CONSTANT
worse. notwithstanding the utmost pre-
cautions of his friends and finally die
, in the greatest agony. After his deaf
an examination iAs 10 IFS actual cauS
was made when his brain was found t
be in q perfect condition, and the rcaSo
of his deceaSe was Of All entirely differ
ent character
: The experiences which lave been ci
ted above all had a common cause an
: were each the result of ore diseas,
That disease. which 50 deceitfuliy We
isurcly removed the people above meI
toned was Bright's disease of the kid
. neys. In the case of Mr.. ROOk the el
f animation after death. while shOwint
, the brain 10 be III perfect condition. r,
lvealed the terrible fact that he was I'll
: viclim Of slight kidney trouble, whic
3 had gone on unchecked, until il resulte
a III acute Bright's disease. The lcadin
physicians and scientists of the worl
l are fast learning that more than on
i half the deaths which occur are causet
! by this mOnStrOus scourgc. Ii is one
tie most deccitful maIadies eyer know
i to the human race, /. manifestS itse
!, by symptoms SO slight and common. F.:
{ to seem unworthy OF attention; and V,
: these very insignificant symptoms al
: the first stages of the worst complain
i, known in the history of the Worl