The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1882-10-26

Its Diseases Etplsined by al Eminent
PhysiciAn Startling Facts no, Geser.
ally kuoun. Who Can Discover
Remedy, &e,'
Nssrs Eistprs:
Tho subioined facs arr believed TO he.
in measure. novel TO most persons out II
The medical profession. Their importance
is thought to be Sufficient apology for
their appearance aud general publicity.
Instant death is ose OF the characteristics
Of heart disease. and claims It's victims in
the busy walks Of life. while resting in
chair, or while in bed ., night. wholly un.
conscious that the dreaded disease is up
on them. believing themselves to be affect.
ed with kidney or liver troubles. iudiges.
ton. asthma, catarrh, dropsy Of the chest.
or weakness from oyerwork.
DR.. Graves, an eminent physician OF
New Hampshire, has recently given pub.
licity TO the following facts relating 10 this
dreaded malady. lie saws Life rests
upoa a thread, the breaking OF which
causes instant death. In considering the
diseases OF the heart, il becomes necessary
for the reader to form some idea Of its
structure aud the duties il performs. The
heart for instance, the bundle OF muscles,
put together to bear the greatest possible
amount of work. and is like hollow ball
with two openings, one for the blood TO
enter, and the other for ito depart When
full 1t contracts and forces out the blood
into the arteries. THIS contraction me-
chanieally closes one OF the openings by a
| simple mem braneous valve, and opens the
other After IL has emrtied itself the
opening closes and one of ingress
opens and the heart empties and fills itself
again about seventy i've times in minute
The functions OF the heart depend wholly
upon the contraction OF the heart when
full, and the strict integrity of the two
valves Should these valves become disor-
ganized in any way during the contraction
or Immediately afterward, the purpose of
the hearts action will be defeated.
The successful working of these valves
is the whole secret OF real heart disease.
There is no danger OF dying from heart
disease without knowing it months aud
years beforehand. The victim may be APP
prised from signs which are unmistakable,
such as inability to run up stairs, hurry in
walking, palpitation, sense of suffocation,
blueness or purpleness of the lips These
evidences of obstruction are not now and
then, but always, especially when sudden
efforts are put forth.
Thus it appears that the affection of the
heart, except in rare cases, is patent TO the
most casual observer.
The hearts construction thus ex planned,
shows the vast amount Of labor 1t performs,
and assists in forming an idea of the fol-
lowing described diseases and symptoms
accompanying them:
Hypertroyhy, or enlargement OF the ven
tricles. The symptoms are: Enlargement
of the left ventricle; and palpitation more
constant than in any other disease Of the
heart There is rush Of blood to the
head on extra exertion, with throbbing or
head ache, aggravated by sudden rising or
lying down. Dizziness, ringing in the
ears, sparks and illusions before the eyes;
also a purplish violet color upon the
cheeks, nose and lips, dull, severe and
aching pain in the region Of the heart, ex-
tending towards the shoulder and inside
Of the arm. these require on the part Of
the victim energetic treatement
Pericarditis, or inflammation Of the
heart case, is not unfrequent. The
membranous sac in which the heart is con-
tanned, becomes inAamed, and it has been
discovered that about one in twenty three
who die at an adult age exhibit marks OF
Of recent or former attacks OF this disease.
The general symptoms are: Pain in the
region of the heart, shooting to the shoul-
der blade an actue inhammatory fever
preceded by chills The pain increases
by taking full, long breath and by
stretching the left side. Inability to lie
on the left side; cough, generally dry,
and general prostitution, and violent palpi-
tation.
Water in the heart case is the result OF
inflammation and is q common attendant OF
the heart being in floating state; pulse
frequent and irregular.
The general symptoms of the valvular
disease OF the heart are q cough, with wat.
cry expectorations; difficult breathing,
frightful dreams and starting in sleep; con-
pestion of the lungs; expectorative stains
OF dark blood swelling OF juglar vein, livid.
ness of face: dropsy in legs and feet, q
contracted and tight feeling about the
lower part Of the chest; engagement of
the liver aud spleen; with oppressive feel.
ing of the brain; small and irregular pulse.
There danger of diseased valves is the pro.
duction of hypertrophy.
Ano;na paotoric mr. rhaum "a tam and