Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-03-20

why Lives of Public Wen in This
country Are Shorter Than in Eng.
land.

ihf fATtL EFFECT OF UNACCUsToMEp MENTAL Ac-
ddriIf-AN INTERESTING LECTURE IN TIE TONER
'NthSs BY Dr. C. X. MILLS, OF PHILADELPHIA.
Dr. G. X Mills. OF the University hospital, Phila-
oeipAla. who. ii VIII be- remembered. examined the
ptiIh oI 'rHltcau after his execution, delivered
httnTc at the National Museum last night, upon
premature Diseases Among Men in Public and
frVate Life. Brought Oh From over Mental Strain"
Inc lecture formed one OF the series of s'Toner
ltcturcS. and was OF very instructive character
ana quite Interesting, throwing some light upon
the causes OF early deaths common among men
engaged III active or intellectual pursuits In this
country Dr. Mills said he was indebted for the
suggestion OF the subject OF the lecture to DR..
Toner who, from his long residence in this city
had had an unusual opportunity OF noticing the
premature hr',ihlig down o men in public life one
prominent example being presented in the ease OF
Ict-ftt>fteiit wilson. whose death was caused by
oNeTwork and mental strain
tie SAID that Congress furnished numerous exam
pts W. !:ntrS or Congress and Senators We're con-
sJantly giving away unuer the strain OF unusual
nervous excitement and mental strain brought on
see "At. Iihliis All classes of men in the United
St'ts 10 toe about fifty years and this shortening
oI NE Is ilc almost entirely to over mental activity
or Irregularities In lie. Taking
THE AVERAGE AGE
OF q few OF the mtst eminent English and American
statesmen, that Of the English was found 10 be -
years and that or the American 30. The English
ch1t1 Justices have averaged life Of IS wears while
tAe AilrrlcdhS only reached CO. He said that TAX
ing lh Representatives, and 50 Senators OF rhe
American Congress. and 12l members of The british
parliament. who had died during the period from
ic"! " To- ne found that the average age attained
10y ne members of the British parliament was is
white lht American Representatives only reached
- ana Ilt Senator's 81 Years. These deaths were
ShfGit 'N gghefa breaking up oil the system and
uepi.ltS, Drought on by overwork. nervousness.
MENTAL worry. and irregular habits The strain
attending too constant
WORK IN THE COMMITTEE ROOMS
iron ont w lrNrr r-sNti
ther succumbing to this strain was, however, the
chahge In their manner of lie Mental activity
and exerti0n, under proper conditions rather
favored longevity. but the attempt TO perform any
amount OF mental labor by one trained for physical
tN1itehS occtsloned great mental strain and
suited In shortening life. Men coming TO Congress-
M h-id frequently made an entire change IN their
mode OF life. From habits OF unusual physcal
act witty they changed TO activity in lnieliec-
tidl ana social pursuits. The strain upon an
nhlralntd mind occasioned by pressing and
eNce'S''>. Irregularities. and excitfments
oi Il rev social Iife effected an entire break
IN up OF the nervous system, and brought on pre-
mature crdth- lie said this premature breaking
down extended to all Glasses OF men engaged in
active life. and the average term of life
was much lower In this country than in Eng
iantt His studies included besides Senators and
Members OF Congress, Justices. Judges. legal and
ihellrdl practitioners Railroad mel, merchants,
journalists dhd all classes engaged in active prA
Sllla- Ne oIcdk-dGwns, he said were apt TO occur
before the age OF nIty. ana they Wer, frequently oc-
L.
~ again they appeared in the form ordinary dis
tstSN Slich as pneumonia. Brghts disease and the
Iht ne susceptibility TO these diseases being Occa-
stoned Dy the breaking up Of the ySte from over
"0Ei, or lrtSuitrty. tie referred to many public
heh whose DEATHS had been brought OH in this
way. ami cltet. without mentioning their names
representative Haskell. who brought on mis- death
ny oAi Wof> in the congressional committees; and
EI'elF. whose death WAS occitSioned by the Worry
ana mental excitement OF his presidential cam
paign anu defeat
WARNINGS OF APPROACHING WRECK
the most marked symptoms preceding this
"reck1nS OF the nervous system, he said, were
pecuAaF head troubles, pains in the back OF the
heck and head. yertiginOus attacks and In addition
great WEAKNESS after but slight eXerion, palplta-
ton OF The heart. dyspeptic symptoms and AN
unnatural munger shortly after meals.
This premature decay. ne thought, was more
common Ill America than elsewhere, on account of
our hoertltS and opportunities. II began In the
Schools All the children having equal chances
equal incentives. and equal ambitions they arrived
at equal mental attachments. The son OF the
blacksmith and the OF the scientist strove for
the saline end: but. While all mcn were equal in this
country. Iii physical or moral sense, there was Il
dliltrrhCe Of mental Inheritance, which rendered
natural 10 the one what li.bOrious and next TO
liln1-iiue Tor the other. Ii destructive to
the longevity OF The youth inheriting physical force,
10 STRIVE Too hard At mind work 1t WAS for the
youth al deilcately constituted mind and We;.h
ply aliue 10 undertake manual labor.