Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-11-03
NO. 261..
THE HEART.
The Source of Life and Motion.
It's Simple Yet Marvellous Mechanism.-
Its Diseases Explained by an Emiment
Notwithstanding Facts not Genera1-
ly known.-Nho Can Discover a Renee
dy, Sc.


Physician.-Start Facts not General
ly known.-Who Can Discover a Renee
dy, sc:
.Nessrs. Editors:
The suhjoned facts are believed to be, in
a measure, novel to most persons out of the
medical profession. Their Importance is
thought to be sufficient apology for their
appearance and general publicity.
Instant death is one of the characteristics
of heart disease. and claims its victims in
the busy walks of life, while resting in .
chair, or while in bed at night, wholly un-
conscious that the dread disease is upon
them. believing themselves to be affected
with kidney or liver troubles, indigestion,
asthma, catarrh, dropsy of the chest, or
weakness from overwork.
DIR. Graves, an eminent physician of New
Hampshire, has recently given publicity to
the following facts relating to this dreaded
malady. He says: "Life rests upon q
thread the breaking of which causes instant
death. In considering the diseases of the
heart it becomes necessary for the reader to
form some idea OF its structure and the duties
it performs. The heart, for instance, is a
bundle of muscles. put together to bear
the greatest possible amount of work, and
is like hollow BAH with two openings, one
for the blood to enter, and the other for it
to depart. When full ii contracts and forces
out the blood into the arteries. This con-
traction mechanically closes one Of the
openings by simple membraneous valve,
and opens the other. After it has emptied
itself the opening closes and the one of in
gress opens and the heart again fills. In
this way the heart empties and fills itself
again about seventy five times in a 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 disorganized in
any way during the contraction or immedi-
ately 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 dis
ease without knowing it months and years
beforehand, The victim may be apprised
from signs which are unmistakable, such as
inability to run up stairs, hurry in walking.
papitation, a sense of sutfocation, 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 explained,
shows the vast amount of labor it performs,
and assists in forming an idea of the follow
ing described diseases and symptoms ac-
companyng them:
Hypertrophy, or enlargement of the ventri-
cles. The symptoms are: Enlargement of
the left ventrcle; and palpitation more con.
slant than in any other disease of the heart.
There is a rush of blood to the head on extra
exertion, with throbbing or headache, aggra-
AZ, 1,,,.,
Dizziness, ringing in the ears, sparks and il
lusons before the eyes; also purplish violet
color upon the cheeks, nose and lips, dull,
severe and aching pain in the region of the
heart, extending towards the shoulder and
inside of the arm, these require on the part of
the victim energetic treatment
Pericarditis, or Inflammation of the heart
case, is not unfrequent. The membranous
sac in which the heart is contained, becomes
infamed, and it has been discovered that
about one in twenty three who die at an adult
age exhibit marks of recent or former attacks
of this disease.
The general symptoms are Pain in the
region of the heart. shooting to the shoulder
blade; an acute inflammatory fever preceded
by chills. The pain increases by taking a
full long breath and by stretching the left
side. Inability to lie on the left side; q
cough, generally dry, and general prostration,
and violent palpitation.
Water in the heart-case is the result of in
fammation and is a common attendant of
dropsy. The patient has a sensation of the
heart being in a floating state pulse frequent
and irregular.
The general symptoms of the valvular dis.
ease of the heart are a cough, with watery
expectorations difficult breathing, frightful
dreams and starting in sleep; congestion Of
the lungs; expectorative stains Of dark blood;
swelling of jugular vein; lvidness of face;
dropsy in legs and feet; contracted and
tight feeling about the lower part Of the
chest; engagement Of the liver and spleen
with oppressive feeling of the brain; small,
weak and Irregular pulse. The danger Of
diseased valves is the production of hyper
trophy.
Angina Pectoris, or rheumatism and neu-
ralgia of the heart is strictly nervous dis
ease; it begins with pain and construction
in the region of the heart, accompanied by
more or less pain in the left arm. In females
it is attended with great sensitiveness and
pain in the breasts. When violent the heart
pain is terrific. There is also oppression in
the chest, and in the worst cases amount to
sufiocation. Palpitations are violent; the
brain is oppressed, and fainting occurs. The
termination of this disease is rapid, and all
hope for life is in immediate treatment.
Taken in the aggregate, deaths from heart
disease are found to be inferior only to con-
sumption as to fatality.
Out of more than five hundred dissections
witnessed by the renowned DIR. Clendinning,
about one third presented signs of heart dis.
ease. Must this be so? Is there no remedy?
Yes, there is one-DR. GRAVES HEART
REGULATOR, and / will send treatise ex-
planning the disease and the remedy, which
has been successfully used tor nearly thirty
years, to any one who will apply to me.
Yours truly, +. Z. INGALLS,.
Concord, N. H., July %, 1882.