The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-04-07
PREsENrI,rENrs
An investigation OF The Causes orThos,
Dark EortbodIngs which Make Power
full Men Weak.

: SfuI Men Weak.
Golden Rule.
Much apprehension has been occasion
cd throughout America from the announce
!. ment made by Professor Proctor that the
. return In nineteen years OF tie great comet
, Of last summer will cause the destruction
. Of the earth. but while people are becom-
ing SO strangely exercised over this an.
J nouncement, MI event Of far more serious
, importance, which is taking place to-day,
seems to be almost wholly overlooked.
The nature Of this most Vttat subject can
be best explained by relating the following
experiences:
Bishop T. o. Haven, known the entire
land, was unaCCountRbly awakened one
night out Of sound sleep, and lay awake
uLtil morning. His mind seemed unusual
ly active, and he not only reviewed his past
| life, which had been an eventfut one, hut
laid extensive plans for the future. He did
not feel especially i'll, but could not nc.
count for tho Unusual activity Of his brain,
nor for the restlessness which seemed to
possess him. In the morning ho had but
AAtle uppeLl(ei wv Nhh hppuIently Well III
other respects, In few days, however, he
began to feel restless and morbid,
although he tried earnestly to overcome
the feeling which had taken possession OF
him. But try rs he would the shadow OF
sonic evil seemed to follow him, and he
was conscious Of a gr dual sinking and
wasting away Of his physical faculties. He
had been an earnest aud diligent worker,
and in his zeal frequently overtaxed his
strength, and being absorbed in his duties
Jailed to observe the common symptoms
with which he was afflicted, thus permit |
ting the work OF destruction to go on un- |
needed. But the end finally came in most |
peremptory manner. Shortly before his |
death he wrote u letter-the last one he
ever indited-in which he speaks us fol-
lows: "a belief that death ii near effects
different minds differently, but probably
all who ire in u fair condition Of physical
and mental strength instinctively shrink
from 1t with an indehnable dread and
horror. A dying man is no more able
OF himself TO iOresee his own destiny or the
destiny OF those he leaves than he was be.
fore he began to die"
The recent sad and sudden death OF
Hon. Clarkson n. Potter is one OF the most
serious warnings ever given in Cle long
list Of innumerable cases Of fatal neglect.
1t is not sufficient 10 say that many other
brilliant 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 saved? The Albany Arv4s, in
speaking Of Mr.. Potter's sudden illness and
death, says:
Zone Of the physicians who attended Mr..
Potter here WIS interviewed last evening.
He stated that Mr.. Potter's inability 10
converse had for some time served to battle
the physicians in their efforts to determine
the root Of his lness. 1t seems, however,
that Mr.. Potter, some two years ago, suffer.
ed slight attack Of kidney disease. I'M
wise dependence upon a robust constitution
and naturally perfect health, and neglect
OF proper clothing, doubtless sowed the
seeds OF disease that needed but some
such personal neglect rs that Of Tuesday
morning to develop. From the symptoms
ut first shown, it was thought that his only
trouble was nervous prOstration; but his
long continuance in semi.unconscious
state led TO the belief that his illness was
seated in a chronic difficulty more mysteri.
Gus and dangerous"
Up to the latter part Of last year Mr.. Ed
ward +. Rock, member of the New York
Stock Exchange, WIS doing business in
Wall street, New York. lie had every
thing to encourage him and make life
happy, but was the victim Of unaccounta.
BILE uneasiness. His experience, MS de-
scribed by one who knew, was us 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 mp.
pear pleasant, but il required great effort
to do so; after which he would again re.
lapse into his former morbid mood. This
feeling continued for Il number OF months, |
when he became conscious Of IN added
sensation OF lassitudc. 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 aiterward his head began to ache
most frequently and his stomach failed |
to digest properly. Being told that be !
suited m eminent physician who in |
formed him that his kidneys we're slightly |
effected, and gave him medicine to resto re
them. But he grew worse instead Of better,
lie then consulted other eminent doctors |
Of another school and was informed that
he had brain difficulty somewhat in the |
nature ola tumor, but in spite Of all ef-
fUAts TO the contrary he continued TO grow
worse. At this time his condition was ter
rible What were at first simple symptoms
had developed TO terrible troubles. He
was flushed ami feverish, constantly nm
easy, 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 Il burden. These disastrous
symptoms continued, his face and body be-
came discolored, his heart was irregular in |
its action, and his breath came in short
convuIsive gNsps. He grew constantly
worse, Notwithstanding the utmost precaG-
tons OF his friends and finally died in the !
greatest agony. After his death an exami.
nation rs TO its actual cause was made,
when his brain was found TO be in ierfect !
condition, and the reason OF his disease
was Of an entirely different nature"
The experiences which have been cited !
above all had common cause and were |
each the result OF one disease. That dis.
ease which SO deceitfuiiy, yet surely re-
moved the people above mentioned was
Brights disease Of the kidneys. In the |
ease 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 slight kidney
trouble, which had gone on unchecked, |
until it resulted in acute Bripht's disease !
The leading physicians and scientists OF |
the world are fast learning that moro than
onc.half the deaths which occur are caused |
by this INDUSTRIOUS sCourge. Itisone OF the
most deCeitiul maladies ever known to the
human race. 1t manifcsts itself BY synp- |
toms so slight and common, as to seem tln.
worthy Of attention; and yet these very in
significant symptoms are the first stages
Of the worst complaint known in the
history Of the world. Thousands Of