Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-04-07
PRESENTIMENTS.
An Investigation of the Causes of
hose Dark FOrebOdjDgs which
Make Powerful Men Weak.
Golden RuIe


Much apprehension has been occasioned
throughout America from the announcement
| made by Professor Proctor 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 to be
| almost wholly overlooked. The nature of
this most vital subject can be best explain
ed by relating the following experiences:
Bishop E. Q. Haven, known to the entire
land, was unaceountably awakened one
night out of a sound sleep, and lay awake
until morning. His mind seemed unusually
| active, and he not only reviewed his past
| life, which had been an eventful one, but
laid extensive plans for the future. He did
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 we'll in other respects. In few
| days, however, he began to feel restless and
morbid, although he tried earnestly to over
come 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 facul-
tics. He has been earnest and diligent
worker, and in his zeal frequently over
taxed his strength, and being absorbed in
his duties failed to observe the common
SYMPTOMS with which he was afflicted, thus
permitting the work of destruction to go on
unheeded. But the end finally came in a
most peremptorY manner. Shortly before
his death he wrote letter-the last one he
ever indicsed-in which he speaks as fol
lows: ga belief that death IS near effects
different minds differently, but probably all
who are in a fair condition Of physical and
mental strength iustinctively shrink from it
with an indefnable dread and horror. A
diving man is no more able OF himself to
foresee hts own destiny or the destiny of
those he leaves than he was before he began
to de-"
The recent sad and sudden death OF Hon.
Clarkson n Potter is one OF the most seri-
Gus warnings ever given in the long list of
innumerable cases Of fatal neglect. It Is
not sufficient to say that many other bril-
liant men, including Everett, 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 saveds The Albany Argus. 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 IuAb MI IObIGT-E lQaDlllEY TO con-
verse had for some time served to bafte the
physicians IN their efforts to determine the
root of his illness. 1t seems, however, that
Mr.. Potter, some two years ago, suffered a
slight attack of kidney disease. Unwise
dependence upon robust constitution and
naturally perfect health, and neglect Of
proper clothing, doubtless sowed the seeds
of q disease that needed but some such
personal neglect as that of Tuesday morn
In m daua1On From the 81 FreE
shown, it was thought that his only trouble
was nervous prostration; but his long con-
tinuance in a semi.uneonscious state led to
the belief that his illness was seated In a
chronic difficulty more mysterious and
dangerous"
Up to the latter part OF last year Mr. Ed
ward F. Rock, member of the New York
Stock Exchange, was doing business in Wall
street, New York. He had everything to
encourage him and make life happy, but
was the victim OF unsccountable uneasiness.
His experience, as described by one who
knew, was as follows: cat unexpected
times, aud on occasions when he had the
greatest reason to feel Joyous he was irrita-
BILE and haunted with strange feelings Of
discomfort. He endesvored to check these
feelings and appear pleasant, but It re-
quired great effort to do so; after which
he would again relapse into his former NOR.
bid mood. This feeling continued for a
number OF months, when he became con-
scious of an added sensation of lassitude.
He was tired even when resting, and
although experiencing no acute pain, had
dull, aching sensations In his limbs and va
riOus parts OF his body. Shortly afterward
his head began to ache most frequently
and his stomach failed to digest prop
erly. Being told that he was suffering
from malaria he consulted an eminent ply
stefan, who Informed him that his kidneys
were slightly affected, and gave him medi-
cine to restore them. But he grew worse
instead of better. He then consulted other
eminent doctors of another school, and was
informed that he had brain difficulty some
what 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 symp-
toms had developed to terrible troubles.
He was flushed and feverish, constantly I'M
easy, and yet always weary. He had an In
tense appetite one day and very little the
next. His pulse was irregular, his breath
ing labored, and every moment OF existence
was burden. These disastrous symptoms
continued, his face and body became dis
colered, his heart was irregular In its action,
and his breath came in short, convulsive
gasps. BE grew constantly worse, notwith-
standing the utmost precautt0n OF his
friends, and finally died In the greatest
agony. AIb6f his O6dLu al CAahAlhatiOu rs
to its actual cause was made, when his brain
was found to be In perfect condition, and
the reason of his decease was OF an entirely
different nature.n
The experiences which have been cited
above all had a common cause and were
each the result of one disease. That dis
ease, which so deceitfully yet surely re-
moved the people above mentioned, was
Bright's disease Of the kidneys. Ia the case
of Mr.. Rock the examination after death,
while showing the brain to be In perfect
condition, revealed the terrible fact that he
was the victim Of q slight kidney trouble,
which had gone on unchecked until 1t re-
suited 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 mOnstTOus scourge.
1t is one of the most deceitful maladies ever
known to the human race. Il manifests IT.
self by symptoms so slight and common as
to seem unworthy Of attentioni and yet these