Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1883-09-13


A chronic disease, ~ the name ind
Gates, is one which has existed for soil
time, and is So called in distinction
acute diseases, or that of recent Origin
With diseases, as with habits, thOs
which have long existed are the mos
uihcnit to overcome, and il is Just 4
unreasonable to expect the sudden O
speedy cure ofa long standing physi
cal disorder as it would be to expect t
he IN the same manner rid of an oil,
and confirmed evil habit. In both case
the object TO be reached must be reach
ed by patient, inteligently directe,
and perseverng effort, continued for
period of time proportiouate to tha
Of the duration of the disorder
With disease, as with all other evils
no permanent relief can be obtained st
long as the cause pre-eXists. And it is al
vain to expect cure of a disease withou
removing the cause, as it would be II
hold ones hand in fire, and yet not b,
| burned. The pains and Inconvenience O
disease are the warnings to admolisl
| us OF It's presence and indicate the neans
tor relief, which must be effected botl
by the removal of the cause and the ap.
plication of remedies suitable to the
case. A know ledge Of means, both for
prevention and cure, is included in the
requisites of a rue physician for the
proper performance of his duties, for it
is only by knowledge of the causes of
a malady (often due to some habit of
the patients) that he can successfully
treat it. A chronic disease may have
progressed SO far in its ravages that u
portion OF some organ may have been
destroyed, or its structure so changed
as to interfere with its norma! action.
In such cases medical treatment can but
check the further progress of disease
ana alleviate the Inconvenience result
ing from such injury. The majority of
all chronic diseases are caused by some
constitutional disorder which is either
the effects of wrong habits and modes
of life, or practiced by the individual!
sufferer, or transmitted by Inheritance
from ancestors.
Among these causes are included un.
wholesome diet and dwellings, exces.
slve indulgence of appetites, unrestrain.
ed passion, depressing emotions, such
as care, grief and anxiety, over-excr.
tion of body and mind, and numerous
other causes, all of which reason would
teach us are capable of producing in
furious effects. AL diseases produced
by such causes are amenable to treat
ment, which will be more or less sue
;essful, according to the circumstances
'f the patients, and their willingness to
cooperate with their physician in his
attempts to relieve those who prefer to
ndul ge in modes of life which they
lave been shown are the cause of their
must abide the consequences,
md can Only y expect temporary relief
wen from the most skillful treatment,
md all remedies will become less ettec-
nal as the age of the patient and the
[uration of the disease increases.
All constitutional diseases may be
more readily cured, other circumstances
'eing favorable, in childhood, because
4 that time, as with bad habits, they
re yet in incipiency, ,aLd have not gained
firm hold upon the organism, and the
ltal forces are vigorous and untram-
neled. Yet as to the prime of life all
hrOnic diseases may be ctfectually
reated. After that time, when the vital
overs begin to fail, and the infirmites
f age are added to the previously
xisting ailments, all treatment be-
ONES leSs etficacious and unsatisfac-
'ry, though even in the last stages of
i-easc or the most advanced age, relief
nd proloneation of life is possible by
iteligent aud skilful treatment.
T.. w. G.. .