Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-08-17

Loss Of memory in middle age is a symp-
tom that should never be neglected or thought
light Of. Remember, it man point to incip-
lent softening of the BRAIN and utter collapse
or demontia. do not mean to brighten any
reader, so [ purposely italicizo the may
What may be may not be- and rice rerSd
The symptoms of loss of memory more
often than not are the result of over.tired-
ness, an undutiful kidney or liver that wants
seeing to. If, coupled with the loss of mem.
DRY, there were occasional attacks of swim
ming in the head, sleepiness, weakness Of
sight, sensibly diminishing capability for ac-
customed work, fits of rritability, and low.
ness of spirits the case would, to say the
least Of it, look more serious
The loss Of memory in middle age is differ
ent from that of old age, as far as my iudg-
ment goes In the latter stage of life there
is gradual, but to the person himself not
always noticeable, decline OF the powers of
memory, just as there is in the powers of
strength of muscle, eyesight and hearing.
For time at least the old man hardly misses
his retreating memory, he lives more in the
past than for the present, and has recollec.
tlons of by-gone times-6re the tablets of
memory got hard and unimpressionabe-
though he with difficulty, if at all, can trace
the events of yesterday. A mercful Provi-
dence rules it should be 70. Aud, as said,
1t is the same with eyesight aud hearing. Is
1t Charles Lamb that tells the anecdote of the
old man pointing up to the castle rookery
and saying, ut is very strange, but the crows
be all gone out from out there these many
years but l remember the time they
were thick enough and noisy enough too 2"
always thought that very delightful anec-
dote, and sincerely hope that no tboughtess
being took the trouble to undeceivo the old
t,Nt Al II
brink by telling him that as he spoke the
rocks darkened the air, and made noise
enough TO awaken the Seven Seepers
But the loss Of memory that points to dis
ease or ailment of some kind in middle age
is generally transient and periodic. The pa.
tient can remember or recollect well enough
sometimes, not so well at others memory is
brighter with him of a morning, or after ne.
riod of rest, than when working or when tired.
Some people while speaking fail suddenly for
the loss Of word-men who had once been
brilliant orators-others while writing sud.
denly stagger at the photography of a word
with which they really are familiar or sub
stitute one letter of similar sound for an
other, "b" for 'p, " for instance, or "a"
for a It" Either of the above may all at
once forget the name of person with whom
they are intimately acquainted yes, or their
own cognomen.
Well, this loss of memory in middle age
should always be treated us q serious symp-
tom, whether it be so or not. People who
suffer therefrom should decrease their hours
of labor, work more systematically, be care.
full to take rest whenever they feel tired. re.
taxation when the least low in spirits, album.
dant exercise in the open air whether they
seem to need it or not. They should attend
to the general health and the regularity of the
system. Take a tonic-a mild and nor. con.
stipating one-remembering, however, that
tones are dangerous tools, and too often
wolves in sleeps clothing, or stmulants in
disguise. Temperance should be observed,
and wine most sparingly used. By observ-
ing such rules as these a failing memory may
be restored then, and not till then, mue-
monies may be had recourse to, in order to
prevent relapse.
Mnemonics should be to the memory what
good spectacles are to the eyes-preservativ
-Iidrper'S BazGr.