The National tribune., 1884-10-02
CAUSE OF DISEASES.

self open TO the severest criticism by the mar
row and unscientifc view of the cause of dis
eases which he makes govern his decisions. We
where the limits of absolute absurdity have
been passed in refusing pensions for disabilities
that no reasonable man can doubt were the
direct result of the strains of military service
There is nothing in the whole theory and prac-
tice of modern medicine which viii begin to
justify the extremes to which the Pension Bu-
reau has pushed its demands for specific evil
dence on the erigin Of disability.
The tendency Of modern medical thought is
directly counter 10 the Pension Bureaus ideas.
The better class of physicians nowadays be
lieve as little in specific causes for diseases
as they do in specific remedies for them. They
have as little patience with the notion that
cold will cause consumption, or that ice water
produces Bright's disease, or fat pork engen-
ders scrofdla, as they have in the nostrums-
patented or priyate-urged as sure cures for
those diseases. Every respectable doctor now
tells those who ask for information that there
is but one cause for all diseases, and that
cause is the weakening of the forces Of life.
If mans vital strength is lowered beyond
certain point he becomes a victim of disease,
which attacks his weakest organ or organs. If
his brain structure be the weakest he has brain
disease; if his lungs, he has consumption; if
I 81, l.osl
Brights disease, and so on. Consequently, all
medical treatment nowadays is devoted to
building up the bodily and vital strength. No
intelligent physician has any faith in or even
patience with any specific for the cure of
lung" liver, heart" stomach, or other
diseases The popular phrase" his system
was run down expresses accurately the con-
ditions which bring about an attack of a So
called specific disease. 1t may be that this
! lowering of the vital strength is due to inner
tied weakness. undue exertion, great strains or
hardships, grief, anxiety improper or INSULT
cient food, excesses, etc. The operation of the
same causes viii produce in one man consump-
tion. in another rheumatism in a third heart
disease, in a fourth troubles Of the liver, kid
neys. or stomach. and SO on.
Now, the commonest kin5l-of common sense
teaches thar there can be no such rack and
strain Of the human constitution as that sus-
tanned by those who did field duty in such a
protracted and bloody struggle as our war of
the rebellion. Not only was that war longer
than any contest in modern history, but every
month Of Its continuance was filed full of
desperate collisions, which involved the in
tenscst moral and physical straining Of the COM
batants. The immense extent Of territory fought
over demanded marches of unprecedented
length and exceeding fatigue. The sparse set
Element Of the country made it impossible to
give such shelter and food to the troops as
European soldiers are accustomed to. 1t is
rislling nothing to assert that one years serv-
ice with the flag Of the Army Of the Potomac,
the Cumberland, the Tennessee, or any Of the
other of the fighting armies involved more
strain-brcught a man nearer the gFave-than
i've years active campaigning in Europe
Having belonged to one Of these armies is
the greatest physical fact in a mans life. Ii
has produced stronger effect upon his vital
power than anything else in his experience.
Though he might not have received any ap-
parent injury at the time. he has unquestion-
ably been racked and strained in a manner that
If has not actually induced disease at the time.
has prepared the way for futare attack and
rendered him less capable Of withstanding an
invasion of some form Of disease.
ia man be nov suffering from, consumption,
5 bronchitis, asthma. diarrhea, rheumatism, dis.
eases Of the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, or any
serious constitutional ailment. the cause Of the
same is unquestionably his service in the army
The Surgeons acceptance Of him at the time
Of enlistment is conclusive proof that he wa.
then an exceptionally sound and healthy
E young man. This was demonstrated still nlor,
t convineingly when he endured for any length
OF time the rain and slcet, the broiling san, tht
G intense heat and the bitter cold, the muddy
e beds, the exhausting night marches, the pool
: and insufficient food Of aa active campaign
: and the awfai mental and physical strain Of
: battle Ali physiologists tell US most emphatic
a ally that no man can endure these things viii
impunity: that they wear out and break dowl
the body just as surely as hard service, shocks
jars and wrenches win wear out and breal
IS down tool, garment, vehicle, ship or
n railroad car A forced march in the night, 0
: under burning sun, or bed in the cold mud
y beaten upon BY the driving sleet, is a strai
ie upon every body which endures it that is jus
] as definite and just as long stride toward il
4 final wearing out as the straining Of ship i
terrible tempest, or Of wagon over a roa
\ that wrenches every fiber in its frame.
Not by any possible means can the hnma
body, the ship or the wagon be made as goo
as they were before they endured the strain
They are al much less ablo than they were
II encounter any future strains, and their pcrio
Is Of usefulness has been greatly diminished.
m Every physician called upon TO treat an il
i" valid, every insurance company asked for
e life policy takes full account Of the shocks an