The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1884-05-01

He had enjoyed the pleasures Of the
world 10 some consi iWable extent
when younger man. and had travelled
n good deal abroad, but had mover bceu
really Incorporate. either in eating or
drinking. know that he would have
told me Of 1t had he been so. for ho
kept no secrets from his medical advis-
er But idl,nuss was his besetting sin.
| do not know that for the SIX mont y
previous TO the day on which We had
the serious talk which forms the sub
jcct OF this paper he had done anything
else but read. He reads the ucwspa-
pcrs all the forenoon. alsi books, books,
books all tho remainder of the day,
and often, ! believe, late into the night.
We'll, doctor" nay patient said to-
day, Ave taken all your medicine, and
/ don't feel one whit the he ter.
"I,s," replied; you've taken all
my mcd!cinc-yUu arc very good nj
taking plysic--Dut had you takon my
advice as we'll in other aud hygienic
matters, | would not have been sorry
had you thrown the medicine 10 the
dogs"
''Do you say so?" he exclaimed |.
"Now, Ill tell you exactly how | feel
-
certainly do not mean 10 plague
readers with detail Of MY pa,icnI-
symptoms, real and imaginary. hod
to lis,cn.io them, and did 80 most pa
ticntly, although probably great dcaI
OF what he said went in nj one ear and
out at the ether. | sat silent Tor some
timc Sfipr hp had finished
lie looked ut me somewhat ANXIOUS
ly, then got up and walked about tho
room for few minutes, and finally re-
seated himself.
You are unusually quict. Doctor he
aid ut last, in an earnest tone of voice.
You don't think there is anything
rcry serious the matter with me to-
day?'
II think the worry worst said SOL
EMMY, aud probably soma might say
misch h.evously. but had only the good
intention of thoroughly rou5ing him;
even if ii caused Linn to call in another
medical man, felt | should not be
sorry.
Your heart is affcctodv'
This was no exaggerated statement.
OF il nervous debility that tic heart 5
tone is lowered. We physicians cal il
functional disorder, TO distinguish il
from actual organic disease. 1t should
be remembered TIM: the heart is i mus
cular organ, and as liable TO be below
or above par as the other musces Of
the body; nor, on the other hand should
1t be forgotten that il nervousness be-
comes chronic in any patient, the heart
is liable TO become permanently affect
od, aud lie necessarily much shorten
cd. This only shows us that strenu-
Gus effort toward restoration of health
should be ~ once made by any one suf-
fcring from the complaint we are now
,considering--a complaint which, owing
10 the struggle for existence going on
in cur midst, il every day becoming
more common. A cure, as may bc
cleaned from the conversation that fol-
lows. Is not TO be looked for from med
iCiue alone, although tonics and alter
ativcs are OF great use. but from strict
adherence to the rules OF Aygicnc, phys
ic,k and mental.
you cannot mean it.'
"lt is my duty TO tell you so, and
do mean it"
"Oh, doctor" he gaspcd, saizing me
by the arm above the wrist, with grir
that spoke volumes for the strength oI
his voluntary muscles, at all events
"Oh, doctor!-you--do not mean 10 say
l am-gong to-to-to diep'
I'VE must all die.
"Oh! this is awful this Is terrbler
he cried.
He gazcd around him in n semi-daz
ed, bcwildercd way, as if bcsecchin.
the very chairs and sofas. and the pic;
urcs on the walls to step in and say,
him from the inevitable.
81 have of,en,h he said slowly, n
last-and there were swcat-drops oI
his brow-"I have often said | wishct
to die and be done with it all. to di,
and be at peace, but did not think il
would come SO soon, and come thus
Say. say you are hut joking, doctor"
IL never joke" replied, ION so ser
iols 4 matter as disease. But | have
not said YOU were soon 10 die. That yol
are in danger in real dangor-I can
not conceal from you. liope can. o!
| could, give you, il you would but fol-
low my advice. If you do not do so,
would infinitely prefer your calling il
another physician, for can do Ii,
more 10 save YOU"
'Do not ypu g'vc me mp doctor
Your advice has always seemed TO M
so different from that of any one else
You make things 80 plain 10 me. :"
"Do ~ Thanks. But what of it i
that advice Is not taken? Might | no
rs well talk TO the cat there on til,
hearth-rugP You have every adyantag,
IN lie; your existence might bo very
happy one, if you had-cxcusc mean,
method in your madness. If you wer,
not entirely u slave to your own feel
ings, whether real or imaginary-an,
they are moro often tho latter than tn,
former. There are tens of thousand!
in these islands suffering from nervous
ness, with functional diseases Of th'
| heart, that have not half the chances o.
getting well that you have, although
| there is really no case that ever | me
with that cannot be either cured or al
| leyiatcd by attention TO diet, ayoidanc,
OF s,imulants, the daily use of bath anC
fric,ion with rough towels aud flesh
brush, unlimited exercise in the opcr
air, whether the weather be wet or dry
cold or hot, and pleasant society. Mix
ing with pleasant society Is ono of th'
very best means for the cure of ner
vousncss. IL takes ono for the tim'
being quite out of ones self, quite away
from ones troubles and aches. II
must, however, never be Crcitng socie-
ty. for this sends the blood to the head,
and Injuries the very foundation OF
horsepower. What do you tell mep
You never take stimulanls to cXcessP
doubt il; for tea, il too much INDUCED
in. is a dangerous stimulant, and so is
cofinn A cun of milk that has been