St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-06-20

Red Wing; medical Jurisprudence, @. w.
Boardman, st. Paul; pathology, Charles
W. Hunter, Minneapolis. The committee
on nominations recommended the following
committee on medical education: DR..
Craig of GAINESVILLE; DR.. Senkler, ST. Paul;
DR.. Hunter, Minneapolis; DIR. Hand, st.
Paul; DR.. Brown, Minneapolis; DR.. Benz,
New Ulm; DR.. McComb, Duluth.
MORE REPORTS.
The next business in order on the pro-
gram was the report of the committee on
nervous diseases, it being considered the
most important. 1t being the committees
first report DR.. Riggs, chairman of the COM
mittee, stated that the disease was so COM
mon that it was agreed to have more than
members of the committee give their views
on the subject. Several papers giving cases
that have come under the practice of the
authors were read and referred without dis
cussion. A lengthy article on brain ex-
haustion was read by the committee
on nervous diseases. Overwork and
anxious care, plus climate, were given
as the cause of the American
nerve sensitivenesS, and the latter is the
fruitful soil from which spring functional
nervous troubles. Of the functional troubles,
none have increased more rapidly than brain
exhaustion. Intellectual, like muscular ac-
ton, probably involves an expenditure of
living material and introduces changing
of particles, those which have been used
giving place to others which have come
with the energy of new life to perpetuate
the action. The article referred to the evils
of excessive brain work and deplores the
detrimental influence on the nervous system
of the emotions not under the control OF the
will. A patient is often told, who is sub
ject to these symptoms, that there is moth
ing wrong with him, only little nervous
irritability, and that all of his sufferings
are due to his own morbid Imagination.
If the exhaustion of the brain is excessive
the duties of the nervous system are but
lily performed. The nerve cells of the
brain cause the development of an unstable
and an unequable form of nervous energy,
which energy differs from that found in a
brain healthily nourished, as to uniformity,
quality and quantity, and all of the untold
sufferings of patients from cerebral eXhaus-
ton are due to this deterioration in nervous
force Climate and modern civilization are
the chief factors in the genesis of brain ex-
haustion. The brain is Influenced through
the nerves by extremes of heat and cold, by
the constant barometric changes and the
ever varying
ELECTRIC CONDITION
of the atmosphere. And in no other coun-
try are the climatic conditions so detrimental
to the nervous health as in America, and
especially in Minnesota. Extremes of heat
are more depressing to one neryously pros
trated than cold. The dry, oxy-
genated atmosphere causes the
wheels of activity to run wildly.
;o 20 ~, of
pair. and nervous bankruptcy necessarily
follows. The social life has its cares, its
jealousies, its unsatisfed ambitions. These
influences, acting and reacting, each upon
the other, draw largely On the margin of
nerve force, and not infrequently become
the channel through which many accom-
plished ladies are carried from the realm of
social life to that of the nervous invalid
An instance of a young lady was given who
was conversing with some of her friends
about ball which she had made great cal
culations upon attending, but greatly to her
chagrin she was not invited. While con-
versing about it she fell to the floor utterly
unconscious, evidently intense cerebral con-
gestion caused by inordinate emotion. Too
early an introduction of their daughter into
the pleasures and sorrows of social life is a
serious mistake by many American mothers.
The intensity Of our business life is ut
terly beyond the ability of the brain to en-
dure. AS result of this there is chronic
predominance of cerebral waste, of over re-
pair. The patient many times complains of
great restlessness during the day, and an
noying wakefulness at night. Slight men
talseXertion often causes severe pain in the
head, pain in and over the eyes being es-
pecially severe. These persons are very
irritable when troubled, giving vent to out
bursts of passion. In the course of the dis
ease the patients are almost sure to suffer
from IAN aggravated form of insomnia.
This irritability of the brain must be over
come by careful rest and nutrition and not
by hynotics, nor narcotics or sedatives, to
which many resort. There are a great
many more troubles when a morbid fear is
developed, the following being the most
usually met with: Dread Of society, dread
of being left alone, dread of open or Sc
Guided places, indefnable feeling of appre-
hension, dread of forming a decision, fear
of disease. The prognoscis of cerebral ex-
haustion is favorable, if taken in time and
carefully treated. The treatment of this
disease may be expressed in three words:
Rest, approximation and nerve tonics.
The paper was listened to with no little
interest by all the physicians.
ROUTINE WORK.
The committee on publication was in
structed to republish all the bylaws and
constitutions Of the association since the
year 1881.
The report of the committee on gyn@col-
ogy was submitted and referred to the COM
mittee on publication.
The report of the committees on diseases
of children, on materia medica and oph-
Technology and Othology, were referred to
the committee On publication.
1t was moved and seconded that the re-
port of the committee in correspondence
with the American Medical society at New
Jersey, for further legislation, be adopted.
The report of the committee on nervous
diseases was referred to the committee on
publication.
D. E. S. Boothbay of Wisconsin and DR..
Hamilton of Illinois were given seat in
the society.
Drs. Smith and Baldwin of st. Paul, who
have retired from active service, were made
honorary members of the association.
DR.. Stone introduced a resolution making
it the sentiment of the meeting, if adopted.
that all garbage and excreta in cities and
villages onght on sanitary grounds, to be
burned. This was laid over until the after
noon session for discussion, and the associa-
ton took recess.
THE AFTERNOON SESSION.
In the afternoon the first business was
the election of officers, no further papers
being announced. The result Of the cleo
ton was as follows:
PreSident-Dr. E. J. Darts, Mankato.
Vice Presidents-Dr. Ell. II. Kimball,
Minneapolis; DR.. T. Wakefield, Hutchin-
son; DR.. W. D. Finn, Redwood Falls.
Treasurer-Dr. S. B. Sheardown, Wi
mona.
Recording Secretary-Dr. G. B. With
erie, st. Paul.
Corresponding Secretary W. G..
Beebe, st. Cloud.