Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1886-04-10
6 DIED SUDDENLY.

nave occurred Oh late III HagefSt0wn
and other parts of this country have
caused many people to give thought
to the causes that tend to increase the
mortuary list, and during the past
month our city has mourned the loss
of several prominent and well known
citizens who were enjoying appar-
ent good health. Men and women
OF national prominence aud reputa-
ton instantly succumbed to the final
warning that hangs the Grape on
many doors.
The word death bias a volume of
meaning in it that will cause the
bravest of men to tremble and give
thought, even though it be but mo-
mentary, to the unknown hereafter.
To die suddenly, without warning,
without being aware of the near APP
proach of the grim messenger who
robs us ofthe nearest and dearest of
friends, is one of the saddest moments
in the life of any man or woman.
And yet every sudden death, or
dissolution that occurs without pre-
vious notice, is but the result OF dis
obeying some inflexible law of ma
ture. In the private history ofevery
life that ends abruptly could be
found the precise starting point caus
ed by some infraction of the simp-
lest laws of nature; some deviation
from the path of common sense that
plainly teaches us the difference be.
twixt right and wrong, and proves
to us by precept and example that
premature death is but the result of
thoughtless disobedience. OF late
years the number of persons who die
suddenly is increasing to an alarm
ing extent. In the United States
the whole number is nine per cent.
greater, in proportion to population,
than any other nation of the world.
1t is said, and with a great deal of
truth, that the American people live
too fast; that too little thought is
given to the cultivation Of physical
strength and development of the
body proper. Our habits and Gus
toms are demoralizing, and onr daily
life from sunrise to sunset is compos-
ed Of hurrying on, needless of the
shadows that death casts across our
pathway to warn us of impending
danger. The diseases that furnish
the greatest number of victims for
the common phrase "died sudden
ly," are apoplexy, paralysis and con-
gestion Of the lungs. The term ap
oplexy means stroke or shock and
in fatal cases the most frequent
pathological condition is hemorrhage
within the Uranium or the rupture
OF minute blood vessels of the brain.
In the great majority of cases the
attack is without a moments warn
ing, although it is some times pre-
ceded by some cerebral symptoms,
such as sense Of peculiar weight or
fitness, dizziness, ringing in the ears,
flushing of the face, all of which
symptoms denote congestion of the
brain. The symptoms denoting the
attack is the sudden loss of con-
seriousness, usually accompanied with
sloy, difficult breathing. The at
tack often occurs while the patient |
is walking, and frequently at night
while sleeping. The age at which
apoplexy occurs most commonly is
from 80 to 20. Various causes may
cooperate with certain morbid con.
iitions within the brain to deter
mine the occurrence of the seizure,
causes which induce an accumulation
of blood in the vessels of the brain.
Mental excitement, violent exercise,
drunkenness and eating hearty meals
are the principal causes of apoplexy.
The patient should be placed in a
cool airy room, the head should be
moderately raised, cold baths APP
piled to the head, hot foot baths and
the removal of all clothing that binds
the neck and chest. Paralysis or
palsy is a loss, more or less, com
pletely, of the power of motion, and
a loss of sensation also; and gener-
ally proves suddenly fatal when it
affects the brain or muscles or
valves of the heart. 1t is in most
cases mere symptom of some dis
ease existing in some other part of
the body than thatapparently affect
ed. The varieties Of causes in the
condition of the brain and spinal
chord which occasion paralysis are
somewhat numerous, as, for example,
congestion, eff'usion of serum or blood |
in the brain, softcning, tumors, sup
puration, and depressed bones from
external violence. The preliminary
treatment for paralysis is similar to