, 1886-08-28
A DISEASE OF CIVILIZATION.
Typos of P.rctic OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
of Observation-Disclosures

Typos of1P.rcfic ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
of Observation-Disclosures
PAretic dementia differs from ordinary
forms Of insanity in that il Is constantly
associated with organic diseases of the
brain or spinal cord, or both. There are
consequently two types-cerebral. or
descending" and spinal, or ascend
ing'-both Of which may afflict At the
same time the same person. acting to-
gether to deepen his mental gloom and
hasten him into his grave.
AS almost nothing is known concern
ing this disease by the general public,
and as even the average practitioner Is
wofully in the dark, q description Of the
symptoms and the progress Of the dis
ease will doubtless prove important as
well as interesting. Tho three stages of
the. disease may be thus classified: l..
Mental and moral deterioration and
other changes Of character. Q. Exalted
delusions. 8. Progressing mental and
physical failure. All these cases are not
sufficiently well marked to Justify these
determinations, but typical cases always
have a we'll marked preliminary OF incu-
batory period. Physically, the subjects
of paretic dementia are generally inRood
condition; there is little or no wear and
tear of the body through mental influ-
ence; they sleep well and they usually
get fat.
The development of the symptoms is
very insidious, and usually covers a
period Of from mi to four years. Cases
have been reported, however, where an
ordinary lifetime was not sufficient to
get the patient beyond the preliminary
stage. The symptoms of spinal affec-
ton are chiefly pains in the lower Ok
tremities, double sciatica. color blind
ness, belt-like sensations in various parts
of the body particularly the head,
, double vision, etc. The same symptoms
may exist in cerebral paresis, but the
principal characteristic is q sudden
change of character. The modest man
becomes boastful, the rich man prodigal,
the careful man reckless, the honorable
man a thief, and the moral man a de-
bauohe. 1t is in such stages that
designing men and specializing women
have preyed upon rare game, which
would have been far beyond their reach
but for the mental blight that had fallen
upon their victims. Wealthy, respect
able fathers of families have beer known
to commit bigamy under such influences,
forgetting at the time that they were
already married.
The paretic's memory, Judgment,
morality. will and power of application
are weakened from the first. The BUSH
ness man becomes reckless or negligent,
and the good father or husband cruel
and Indifferent. The sufferer is so absent
minded that he can not repeat the last
sentence uttered to him, or tell what was
being talked about, or of what he was
thinking at the time. Morbid ~irritability
about trihes is conspicuous. 1t is
related of one man that he
threw a knife at a servant who removed
his plate before he had quite finished
eating, yet heard with apparent apathy
a short time afterward of q catastrophe
involving a loss to him of over 800. 900.
In this stage men are generous, Jolly
good fellows" with boon companions,
but cruel, tyrannical, unjust and parsi-
monious within the fsmily circle. Such
men have abused their wives for calling
In a physician to prescribe for them. yet
uttered no protest whatever against be-
ing taken to an asylum. They are cho-
lerical about petty affairs, phIegmatic at
important turning points in their careers.
and sanguine about, though easily di-
verted from carrying out their purposes.
They develop suicidal tendencies, but
rarely perform the act Of self-destruction.
While memory, will, moral and emo
| t.1,o1 Iala-oa - tl,,o tntfa~ip- rhr-o-
ical and alcoholic excesses are INDUCED
in to an extent which quickly precipi-
tates more serious phases Of the disease.
Remonstrance leads to outbreak, the in
teryention Of the police to violent phys
ical conflict, and the patient lands in an
asylum.
Among the first physical symptoms is
a trembling of the lips and a difficulty in
moving the tongue while speaking. The
patient finds it difficult to utter expo
sive or kissing sounds, and the longer
the word the greater the difficulty en-
~countered. The Ilabials and dentals-
p. B. NJ. 7. Dare the severest tests.
Such words as truly rural and -Pere-
CRIME Pickle" are almost unacceptable
to the ear. Later, whole syllables are
suppressed. The voices Of good singers
become reedy and cracked, but their
good opinion OF their own performances
increases. The organs of sight, hear
ing, taste and smell exhibit similar de
te~rioration; indeed, the total or partial
loss of smell is regarded as one Of the
most positive indications of general
paresis in the earlier stages. There is q
twitching Of the facial muscles and q
trembling of the hands. The "charac-
t%eristic paretic gait" then becomes
manifest. The walk of a patient be-
comes less steady and regular, and it il
difficult for him to stand erect with the
eyes closed and the feet close together
then, in some cases, it il difficult fol-
him TO stand thus ever when he eyei
are open. The feet are thrown widel
apart to increase the base of support
they are lifted high and come down witt
a jerk, the heel striking the ground frs
with a flop The expert dancer o
skater loses his pedal accomplishments
st. Louis Globe Democrat.
Does Drinking Water Reduce Obesity