New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-11-08
THE PENALTIES OF EXCESS.

Some surprise has been expressed tnaI OOaC-
man, noted for his muscular strength and hardt-
hood, should have died recently of consumption.
In this particular case 1t is probable that habit
ual imprudcnt exposure helped the disease but
apart from that there are no reasons why con-
sumption should not kill a very muscular per-
son, while in many instances such persons are
from their habits peculiarly liable to pulmonary
disease We recall a case of the strong man
of Western gymnastlc club; man who was
in the habit of putting up 2O0pOund dumb
bell, and who had wOrstcd Jem Mace in an
amicable settO with the gloves. This young
man was a perfect model of muscular develop
mcnt; but at what seemed the height of his
vigor he fell sick, and In less than year he
died of consumption. The fact was that he had
impaired his vitality whilcabnormally developing
his muscular system and when to outward APP
pearancc he seemed in the most perfect health
he was, like the Southern COnfcderacy, a hOl-
low SHE'LL And these arc not isolated or UNI
common cases. In England the late rage for
what is there called cycling has resulted in
50 much excess as to produce very serious mis-
chief Men who have taken little exercise have
been surprised and delighted to find that they
could ride several miles with ease on the bicycle
or tricycle. Naturally they have been tempted
to make longer distances and better time. And
i'm q number of cases they have broken down
suddenly, Just when they thought they were de-
irving the most benefit from the exercise.
IL is asserted by aliepists that insanity is on
the increase, and they account for this by saying
that people generally Overdo everything. Ncry-
BUSINESS and nervous diseases rc'cOntinually in
crcasng and from similar causes. In fact, the
greatest hindranCe to human longevity to-day
is the tendency toward excess in everything. 1t
is not only i'm business that OvcrwOrk is COM
mon. Ii is quite possible to hurt even the
strongest constitution by excessive indulgence
in mere pleasure. A short time ago what pur
ported to be an account of the daily life of a
young girl In society" was published, and it
was by no means wholly caricaturc. High
pressure living and acting and thinking cannot
be kept up indefinitely. Nature always resents
ovcr-drafts upon her account current, and
sooner or later she returns them Endorsed "nO
effects" through the medium of a collapse or
stroke of paralysis. The strong, too, are more
apt than the constitutlonally weak to run into
such excuses, because they fancy that they cam
not Overdraw their account. But modern life Is
full of pitfalls for the unwary, and unfOrtu
nately the common example seems to Justify
and certainly encourages the prevailing tend
ency to excess. The alienists say that we
smoke too much Some of the doctors contend,
indeed, that tobacco is an active poison, to be
classcd, as it is by the temperance folk, with al
cohol. But the more conservative assert that
great constitutional harm is done by the intern
pcrate use of "the weed" during the period of
adolescence, and fow can doubt this who note
the pasty-faced, ricketty lads addicted to the
cigarette of the period. The safe middle path
is no longer popular All must rush forward at
the top of their speed. And the consequence is
that our insane asylumS and Our cemeteries are
becoming fuller and fuller, while thousands of
homes are either broken up altogether or made
wretched by the abuse of health and the obsti-
nate violation of natural law.
OF course nothing can be done in such a
case but to point ont the obvious truth
! that the penalties of excess are always
enacted by Nature, and that she never
relents or forgives. If life and the pleasures it
affords are thought really worth retaining those
who desire, as Rip Van Wrinkle says, to " live
long and prosper must exercise moderation,
even in the absorbing occupation of money
| gathering.