The Osceola times., 1884-03-08
GENERAL PARESIS.
The New Disease and those Who Have
Had it said obe Common Complaint
Has

Has IL.
Cor st. louis Post Dispatch.
refer to the disease known to medi- |
cal science as General Paresis," and of
which poor Charlie De,monico was the
latest prominent victim; In a some |
what pretentious Treatise on Insanity"
recently published by Dr. William A.
Hammond, no less than thirty-two pages
are devoted to this particular form of
mental arrangement. Yet he fills to
point out the most frequent cause of the
disease. am informed by DR. Mcbride,
DIR. Fordyce Baker and DIR, spitzka,
whose claims to cminencc as specialists
in nervous diseases have n possibly
sounder foundation than that of DIR.
Hammond, that the disease is probably
the most common of all mental derangc-
ments, and that its prevalence is due di-
rectly to the present tendency among
! business men 10 incessant Over-work and
mental worry in t-c pur-.-t Of wealth.
/ Dr. Hammond pronounces the disease
incurable. Indeed about FIVE years ago
he went 50 far in a discussion of the case
Abram Gosling at the Medico-Legal So
ciety as to declare that he would burn
his medical diploma and retire if Cos
ling lived beyond three years. Gosling it
will be remembered, was a wealthy
young merchant in this city, whose sani-
ty was inquired into by commissioners
and Sherifl's jury, and who was pro-
nounced sane He is still alive, though
in delicate health but Dr. Hammond
has not burned his diploma. DR.. Ham
mond pronounced a similar opinion in
the case of Henry Prouse Cooper, the
millionaire tailor of this city, when call
ed as witness be,ore a commission in
quireDdo de lunatico a year ago. But un-
der proper treatment Cooper has so far
recovered that he has resumed charge of
and the branch in London and attends
to his business with such success that
President Arthurs tailor is reputed to be
receipt OF an income equal to that Of the
President himself. Still, in one sense.
DIR. Hammond's book is valuable. He
has collected a number of illustrations
and facts from medical authors more
Trustworthy than himself, and we may
overlook the himsiness of his opinions
and tho fa1sarnuO ,F hiS l,,,;, g., a., ,.,1
ne of the facts he has collected. lie cor
rectly says the inception of general pare
sis IS often indicated by gradual aItera.
ton in the mental characteristics of the
individual. lie makes investments such
as no prudent man would make. He al.
ters the details of his business, dismisses
his best employees and engages others
whom he does not know.
THESE SYMPTOMS
together with the alternate moods of
great mental depression and clation
characteristic of the disease. were all
prominent in charlie Delmonico's ease.
Your readers probably remember the
excitement caused last summer by Tom
Murphy's forgery TO IA note given Emi-
grafton Commissioner StephsSson, OF
Hugh Hastings Endorsement. The ex.
collector, who gave Grant magnificent
cottage at Long Branch has n host of
friends who were paine! and surprised
at his action. He could have procured a
larger amount than that he borrowed
from Stephenson who has the reputa-
tiOn of skin flint, without difficulty
from any one of a dozen friends. An
examination into the matter showed
that Murphy had fallen victim to gene
rel paresis and had morbid and unfound-
ed delusions as to his poverty. Under
good care he is rapidly recovering his
mind and health. Another victim to
the fearful epidemic is General Maken-
zie, who has been in the Bloomingdale
asylum for the past month, Willard it
il said, Is under treatment for the same
affection with hopeful results. Ifa man
can be put under proper treatment at an
early stage of the disease, DIR. Mcbride
informs me, his cure is but matter OF
time, rest and diet. But the mind must
be absolutely relieved of all care and
strain.
GEORGE FRANCIS TRAINS
madness is undoubtedly of this charac-
ter, and distrusting all doctors, he is
treating himself for it. He was getting
along very well until lately, when some
body put it into his head that he ought
to start newspaper Fo- several wears
he has been "A familiar figure in Mad son
Square, ana the children and splr5ws