The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1883-11-13
WEEKLY BAZOO.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1883.
TRE PENALTIES OF EXCESS

TIE PENALTIES OF EXCESS.
Some surprise has been expressed
that boatman, noted for his muscular
strength and hardihood, should have
died recently of consumption. In this
particular case it is probable that hab-
itual imprudent exposure helped the
disease, but apart from that there are
no reasons why consumption should
not kill very muscular person. while
in many instances.s such persons are
from their habits peculiarly liable to
pulmonary disease. We recall a case
of the ''strong man" ola gymnastic
club man who was in the habit of
putting up a 200-pound dumb bell.
and who had worsted Jim Mace in an
amicable set-to with the gloves. This
young man was a perfect model
Of muscular development but at
what seemed the height of his vigor.
he fell sick, and in less thsn a year
he died of consumption. The fact was
that he had impaired his vitality while
abnormally developing bis muscular
system, and when to outward appear
ance he seemed in the most perfect
health he was q hollow shell. And
these are not isolated or uncommon
cases. In England the late rage fer
what lie there called cycling has re-
suited in 70 much excess as to produce
very serious mischief. 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.. Nat
urally they had been tempted to make
longer distances and better time. And
in a plumber of cases they had broken
down suddenly, just when they thought
they were deriving the most benefit
from the exercise.
is asserted by alienists that in
sanity is on the increase, and they &C
count for this by saying that people
generally overdo everything Nerv-
eueness and nervous diseases are con-
tinually increasing, and from similar
causes. In fact, the greatest hind
rance to human longevity to-day is the
tendency toward excess in everything.
1t is not only in business that over
work is common. 1t IS quite possible
to hurt even the strongest constitution
by excessive indulgence in mere pleas,
ure. A short time ago what purported
to be an account of the daily life of a
young girl in society" was published,
and it was by no means wholly carict'
ture. High pressure living and act.
ing and thinking cannot be kept up
indefinitely. Nature always resentf
over-drafts upon her accoun: current,
and sooner or later she returns them
indorsed .no effects" through the
medium of collapse or a stroke Of
paralysis. The strong too, are more
Ant than the constitutionally weak to
run into such excuses. because they
fancy that they cannot overdraw their
account. Bat modern life is full OF
pitfalls for the unwary, and unfortu-
nately the common example seems to
Justify and certainly encourages thu
prevailing tendency to excess. The
alfenists say that we smoke too much
Some of the doctors contend. indeed
that tobacco is al active poison, to b'
sclassed, as it is by the Temperance
folk, with alcohol. But the more con
sentative assert that great constitution
harm is done by toe incorporate use
of "the weed" during the period OF
adolescence, and few can doubt thi
who note the pasty-faces, ricketty lad
addicted to the cigarette of the period
The safe middle path is no longer pop
MAR. All must rush forward at tn
top of their speed. And the conse
ouence is that our insane asylums ant
our cemetries are becoming fuller ant
fnller, while thousands of homes ar
either broken up altogether or mad