Wichita eagle., 1888-10-26
THE MARCH TO DEATH.
WHAT PHYSICIANS SAY CONCERN
ING GENERAL PARESIS.

Characteristics of New American Disease.
Weakening Minds Filled with Strange
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 it may, for it means madness and death
| to its victims
J Nothing can save the person afflicted with
the disease. First comes clouding of the
mental faculties, which is scarcely percepti-
ble 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 trifiing
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 10 assumes
doughty, puffy appearance, and the pupils
of the eyes are irregular Then comes reck-
lessness in regard to money matters, pro-
duced by illusions of hmitless or easily got
ten wealth. For this reason most persons,
| when they are finally stricken helpless by
the disease, are compelled 10 seek shelter in
public institutions. While STILL as far as
| their friends can see, in the full enjoyment
OF their faculties, they buy everything that
strikes their fancy, generally using up all
their ready cash and planging 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 in their homes, frequently enough to
stock them dozen times over. Others have
mania for horses, carriages, clothing or
perhaps even real estate and bonds bought
with an utter disregard for their value or the
ability to pay.
These extravagances generally become SO
noticeable that friends and relatives inter-
! fere. An examination is held and generally
the person Is discharged, for rarely can a
sheriff's jury be found that will adjudge q
person insane against whOrn nothing moro
than e2traragant eccentricitieS can be
charged. But the disease marches on
steadily. The illusions OF wealth and grand
eur become more and more pronounced
Then follow thickness of speech and fail
ing memory. The face becomes moro puffy
end the fine lines are almost Obliterated
simultaneously, too, there frequently ap-
pears hating or unsteadiness 10 the gait,
and paresis has its hold firmly fastened
Generally the disease runs its course within
two years. IL 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 IL the
patient is taken in band at the earliest posi-
| bic stage, nothing, 50 far as known at pres
ent, can save him. Decay can be made moro
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.
| finally, the patient can only stutter
out his words painfully with the
greatest effort. Walking becomes more
and more laborious The limbs tottsr
under the body, and at last he requires the
assistance of an attendant Il the patient
| wants to get about The face assumes a
brutal appearance All the muscles of the
| body are afflicted with a painful tremor the
| hands particularly, twitching constantly.
| The mild is filled with the most wonderful
Illusions
! No matter how low the paretic may be he
+ is supremacy happy. HIS surroundings arc
/ nothing to him. Though he may know that
he is in an insane asylum, that he is consid
cred hopelesslv crazy by the people about
| him, he feels that the delusiou is theirs, and
not even the fact that he is restrained of his
/ liberty can make him unhappy. To him mil
! lions arc nothing He has magnificent
! houses countless servants, and on his death
! bed hs viii invite you with q CHASTITY hosp;
| tahty to ride the broad seas VITA him in his
! golden ships In hideous nockery of his
! physical and mental decreritudc the victim
| CT parcsis is always Of robust appearances.
! AS the disease progresses u its ravages his
/ body grows fat and To the incxpeIienced eye
he seems, when in repose, magnificent spe-
cirnen Of manhood Ills appetite is never
tagging and his powers of digestion are mar
vicious The disease affects oniy the higher
nervous system, and leaves tie nerves Of the
lower order unimpaired All the invoiun-
tary functions Of the body are carried on
without iuterrupeioa just a. though the pa
tent were in parfec. health
| NO man who ieats 9 model lie is hseay to
have general paresis,~ SAID Dr.. Sharks. super
intsndsa. Of the Kings County Insane
asylum, 10 a reporter OF TIE Press
Can no man who does not dissipats be at
tackled With itri
Il won't say that, BY auy means The-s
my be other causes In tie frs. piaos, the
disease is hereditary. The person Afflicted
VITA n nav lead perfect life and still BE-
come victim of peresis, because he haso teen
tainted from toe fstoer or noShsr's side
Besides, dissipation Is cot nec-ssasiiy meant
| when We SPEAK Of a man no4 isafing modal
| LIE Taxa the Wall street brokers. for IN
stance. Macy Of than de from pere<is
brought Oh by the constant rriscc1er: and
whirl in which they Iva Lack Of ress and
improper hours viii p-uduce Il; Worrying
| will bring II on, and serseus hoEsoss troubles
oftea cause II. Because man has general
paresi. j. does not follow ehss Ids has BEEN .
bed Re BIZ. a man who h~es fact Is far
morn haois % contract The disAa ths6 Aay
one elss.
'STo rhas is ;e dueF
"a general hreaking Down q tie GSer
nervous system. caused b ~as-t1g away
and shrinking Of toe brain After csaeA 10
pAretics bysin has fhs apoen aocso6 Aee6no