Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-11-02
THE MARCH TO DEATH.
WHAT PHYSICIANS SAY CONCERN
ING GENERAL PARESlS.

fNG OENEhRL fHheOiS.
characteristics of New American Disease.
Weakening Minds Filled with Strange
HaIIucinations-The Results of Fast
Life-No Remedy.
Died of general paresis"
Again and again during the past five years
this has been the verdict in the case of peo-
pie noted for their brilliant mental attain
ments, until the very name paresis conveys
feeling of terror to the minds of many And
well 1t may, for it means madness and death
to its victims
Nothing can save the person afflicted with
the disease First comes clouding Of the |
mental faculties, which is scarcely percepti-
bic. Only to the expert has it any meaning. |
Generally the afflicted person evinces a |
weakness for stealing. Small, worthless |
things arouse his cupidity, and he is detected |
again and again making away with trifing
things for which he has generally not the |
slightest use. An odd shoe or glove, an ink
stand or penwiper, letters, cups and saucers,
| almost anything that comes in his way. are
| surreptitiously appropriated.
With this mania comes gradual oblitera
ton of the fine lines of the face It assumes
doughy, puffy appearance, and the pupils
of the eyes are irregular. Then comes reck-
iessneSs in regard to money matters pro-
| duced 10y Illusions of imtless or easily got
ten wealth. For this reason most persons
when they finally stricken helpless by
the disease, are compelled to seek shelter in
public institutions. While still, as far as
/ car in ha f,,ll
of their faculties, they buy everything that
strikes their fancy, generally using up all
their ready cash and plunging into debt as
deeply as possible If their fancy runs to
jewelry they buy diamonds. rings and
watches until their funds or credit give out.
The minds Of others, again, run to furniture,
and they pile great quantities of furnishings
up III their homes, frequently enough to
stock them dozen times over Others have
a mania for horses, carriages, clothing or
perhaps even real estate and bonds, bought
with an utter disregard for their value or the
, ability 10 pay.
These extravagances generally become so
noticeable that friends and relatives inter
5 fere An examination is held and generally
Z the person is discharged, for rarely can a
I I sheritTs jury be found that will adiudge a
than eXtrayagant eccentricities can be
charged But the disease marches on
steadily. The Illusions of wealth and grand
eur become more and more pronounced
Then follow a thickness of speech and a fail
ing memory. The face becomes more puffy
and the fine lines ara almost obliterated
Il simultaneously. too, there frequently ap-
: pears haltng OF uusteadiness IN the gait,
| hos hgl ,T--T
h Generally the disease runs its course within
: two years. II rarely takes longer to bring
the victim to the grave, though some few
cases are known where death was fought of
for longer period But dissolution is in
evitable. No remedy has yet been found
that will stay the disease. Even if the
patient is taken in hand at the earliest posi-
bic stage, nothing, 50 far as known at pres
ent, can save him Decay can be made more
gradual, but it is inevitable.
As the disease progresses it is pitiable to
watch the victim The power OF articulation
.. becomes weaker with each day, until
n finally, the patient can only stutter
st out his words painfully with the
u u greatest effort Walking becomes more
ch and more laborious. The limbs tottei
ID under the body, and at last he requires the
es assistance of an attendant if the patient
nj wants to get about The face assumes
Y brutal appearance All the muscles OF tht
body are afflicted with a painful tremor. th,
hands particularly, twitchins constantly
The mind Is filed with the most wonderful
IN illusions.
No matter how low the paretlc may be b.
is supremely happy. His surroundings ar,
- nothing to him. Though he may know tina
he is in an insane asylurn THAT he is conSid
cred hopelessly crazy by the people abou
him. he feels that the deluslon is theirs, ant
not even the fact that he Is restrained of hi
liberty can make MIN unhappy. 10 hlm mil
- lions are nothing, tie has magnlhcen
y houses. countless servants, and on his death
bed he will invite you with a CHASTITY hospi
tality TO ride the broad seas with him in hi
golden ships In hldeous moc6ery of hi
physical and mental decrepitude the til
of paresls is always of robust appearance
Is As the disease progresses in its ravages hi
body grows fat, and to the inexperienced ey
be seems when In repose, a magnificent spt
cimen OF manhood his appetite is neve
Tagging and his powers of digestion are maj
Velous. Inc disease aHects only the hlghe
A. nervous system, and leaves the nerves or th
lower order unimpaired. All the involuI
"H iN'''i'7 ~ Wiz "oNJ ''t" IA ASN u
on without interruption just as though the p'
tient were in perfect health.
mo man who leads model life is likely
have general paresis' said pr: Shanks, supe
lntendent OF the klngs County lnsar
asylum, to reporter OF The Press
"Can no man who does not disslpate be q
tc tackled with 1T"
I'D Il won't say that, by any means Thel
may he other causes. In the first place, Il
disease is hereditary. The person affiictt
with it may lead perfect life and still b
e., come victim of paresis, because he has be-
tainted from the father or mothers sid
Besides, dissipation is not necessarily meal
- when we speak of a man not leading mod
life. Take the "all street brokers, Tor l
III stance. Many OF them die from pares
brought on by the constant excitement al
whirI in which thev live Lack of rest a,
improper hours VIII produce IL; worryll