The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1888-11-24
An AMERICAN AffucrIoN.
The Terrible Disease Caused by Con.
slant Excitement,
"Died of general paresis. +"

A6A oAA again uuAAuB 1AO pa
five years this had been the verdi
J in the case of people noted for the
brilliant mental attainments, unit
the very name paresis conveys
feeling of terror to the minds ,
many. And we'll it may, for
means madness and death to il
victims.
Nothing can save the person a
tlicted with the disease. First come
a clouding of the mental facultie.
which is scarcely perceptibe. Onl
to the expert has it any meaning
Generally the afflicted person evin
ces weakness for stealing.
| Small, worthless things arous
his cupidity, and he is detecte'
again and again making away witt
trifing things, for which he ha
generally not the slightest use. Al
old shoe or glove, an inkstand O
penwiper, letters, cups and saucers
almost anything that comes in hi
way is surreptitiously appropriated
With this mania comes a gradua
obliteration of the fine lines of thu
face. 1t assumes a doughy, puffy
appearance, and the pupils of the
eyes are irregular. Then comes &
recklessness in regard to money
matters, produced by illusions o.
llmitless or easily-gotten wealth
For this reason most persons, when
they are finally stricken helpless
by the disease, are compelled to
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
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 furn-
ishings up in their homes, frequently
enough to stock them a 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 interfere. An exam
ination is held, and generally the
person is discharged, for rarely can
a Sheriff's jury be found that will
adjudge a person insane against
whom nothing more than extrava-
CANT eccentricities can be charged.
But the disease marches on stead
lily. The illusions of wealth and
grandeur become more and more
pronounced. Then follow a thick
ness of speech and failing men,
ory. The face becomes more puffy
and the fine lines are almost oblit-
Grated. simultaneously, too, there
frequently appears a halting or un-
in the gait, and paresis
has it's hold firmly fastened.
Generally the disease runs it's
course within two years. 1t rarely
;akes longer to bring the victim to
he grave, though some few cases
ire known where death was fought
,f' for a longer period. But disso-
ution is inevitable. No remedy |
las yet been found that will stay
he disease. Even if the patient is
AIKEN in hand at the earliest posi-
lie stage, nothing, 80 far as known
It present, can save him. Decay
an be made more gradual, but it
S inevitable.
A few alleged cases of paresis
ave been recorded in which the
'atients recovered, but the most
minent authorities on insanity
gree that in these instances there
aust have been an improper dag
osis; that the patients were not
uffering from paresis, but from
ONE other brain trouble.
As the disease progresses it is
itiable to watch the victim. The
over of articulation becomes
'eaker with each day, until, finally,
he patient can only stutter out his
'ords painfully with the greatest
fort. Walking becomes more and
lore laborious. The limbs totter
nder the body, and at last it re-
uires the assistance of an attend
ntif the patient wants to get about. ]
he face assumes brutal appear
nee. All the muscles O. the body
re afflicted with a painful tremor,
le hands, particularly, twitching
instantly. The mind is filled with {
le most wonderful illusions. t
No matter how low the paretic
ay be he is supremely happy.
is surroundings are nothing to t
i'm. Though he may know that
} is in an insane asylum, that he q
considered hopelessly crazy by $
le people about him, he feels that I
le delusion is theirs, and not even t
e fact he is restrained of his lib j
ty will make him unhappy. To q
m millions are nothing. He has Z
agnifcent houses, countless SER