Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-04-15

PreSentinentS.
An INVESTIGATION OF THE Causes OF THost
pARk FoRgBoprN1s WHICH MAKE
POWERFUL MEN WEAk.

ment maze by Professor Proctor that the
return in 10 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 to be
almost wholly overlooked. The nature OF
this most vital subject can be best explained
by relating the following experiences
Bishop +. q. Ha> en-. known to the entire
land, was unaccoantably awakened one nis ht
out OF sound sleep, and lay awake until
morning. His mind seemed unusually active.
and he not only reviewed his past life. which
had been an extensive one, but laid extensive
plans for the future. He did not feel especial
ly Ill. but could not account for the unusual
activity Of his brain, nor for the restlessness
which seemed TO possess him. In the morning
he had but little appetite. but was apparently
well IN other respects. In n few days, how =
ever, he began 10 feel restless and morbid,
although he tried earnestly to overcome the
feeling which had taken possession of him.
But try as he would, the shadow of some evil
seemed To follow him, and he was conscious
of a gradual sinking and wasting away of all
his physical faculties. He had been an
earnest and diligent worker, and in his zeal
frequently overtaxed his strength, and being
common symptoms with which he was afiiict-
ed, thus permitting the work of destruction
10 90 on unheeded. But the end finally came
in most peremptory manner. Shortly be-
fore his death he wrote a letter-the last one
he ever indited-in which he speaks as fol-
lows: "A belief that death is near affects
different minds differently, but probably all
who are in fair condition of physical and
mental strength instinctively shrink from il
with an indefnable dread and horror. A dying
man Is no more able of himself to foresce
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 \. Potter is one of the most serious
warnings ever given in the long list of in.
Vulnerable cases of fatal neglect. II is not
sufficient to say that many other brilliant men,
including Everett. sumner Chase Wood
Wilson and Carpenter, were swept away bv
the same fatal trouble. The question is. were
these men sufficiently careful of their health,
and could they have been savedr The Albany
Argus, in speaking 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 Mr.. Potters inability to con-
verse had for some time baffied the phy sicians
in their efforts to determine the root of his
Illness. Ii seems, however, that Mr.. Potter,
some two years ago, suffered slight attack
of kidney disease. Unwise dependence upon
a robust constitution and naturally perfect
health, and neglect Of proper clothing, doubt
less sowed the seeds of a disease that needed
but some such personal neglect as that of
Tuesday morning to develop. From the
symptoms at first shown, it was thought that
his only trouble was nervous prostration but
his long continuance in a sem-uncon scious
state led to the belief that his illness was
seated in chronic difficulty more mysterious
and dangerous
Up to the latter part of last year Mr.. Ed
ward +. Rook, a member of the New York
stock exchange, was doing business in Wall
street, New York. He had everything to
encourage him, and make lite happy, but was
the victim of unaccountable uneasiness. His
experience as described by one who knew,
was as follows: AT unexpected times, and
on occasions when he had the greatest reason
TO feel joyous he was irritable and haunted
with strange feelings of discomfort. He en-
deavored to check these feelings and appear
pleasant, but it required great effort to do
so; after which he would again relapse into
his former morbid mood This feeling con-
tinued for a number of months, when he be-
came conscious Of an added sensation of las
situde. He was tired even when resting, and
although experiencing no acute pain. had
dull, aching sensations in his limbs and
various parts of his body. Shortly afterwar
his head began to ache most frequently and
his stomach failed to digest properly. Being
told that he was suffering from malaria he
consulted an eminent physician, who inform
ed him that his kidneys were slightly affect
ed, and gave him medicine to restore them
Rat ta Al.
consulted other eminent doctors Of another
school and was informed that he had brain
difficulty somewhat in the nature of tumor,
but in spite of all efforts to the contrary he
continued TO grow worse. At this time his
condition was terrible. What were at first
simple symptoms had developed TO terrible
troubles. He was flushed and feverisb.
uneasy and yet always weary. He
had an intense appetite one day and very
little the next. His pulse was irregular. his
breathing labored, and every moment Of
existence was burden. These disastrous
symptoms continued, his face and BODY be-
came discolored. his heart was irregular in
its action, and his breath came i6 short con-
vusiye gssps. He grew constantly worse.
the utmost precautions Of his
friends, and finally died in the greatest agony.
After his death an examination as to its
aetua cause was made when his brain
found TO be in a perfect condition, and the
reason Of his disease was Of an entirely
different nature"
The experiences which have been cited
above all had a common cause and were each
the result of one disease. That disease,
which so deceitfully yet surely removed the
people above mentioned was Brights disease
of the kidneys. In the case of Mr.. Rook the
examination after death, while showing the
brain TO be in perfect condition. revealed the
terrible fact that be was the victim Of slight
kidney trouble. which had gone on uncbeck-
ed. until it resulted in acute Bright's disease.
The leading physicians and scientists Of the
world are fast learning that more than one
half the deaths which occur are caused by
this monstrous scourge. Ii is one Of the
most deceiiful maladIes ever known to the
human race. II manifests itself by symptoms
so slight and common a. 10 seem unworthy
of attention and yet these very insignificant
symptoms are the first stages Of the worst
complaint known in the history Of the world.
Thousands Of people have died from troubles
that are called heart disease, apoplexy, pneu-
monia, brain fever, and similar diseases,
when il was, in fact, Bright's disease ofthe kid
neys- The ravages Of this disease have been
greatly increased from the fact that until re-