Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1888-11-14
THE WAY OF LIFE.
Various Causes Contributing t.
Premature Dissolution.


Premature Dissolution.
Tho Bible speaks Of three score years and
ten as the age TO which man may reasonably
look forward II seems as IL, at least, sew.
onty equable, contcnted and happy years
full Of such comfort and qualification as the
members Of each class in the community
have severnlly a right 10 expcct-should and
might be within the reach OF every man and
woman. In some countries, however we
lind this 20 be much more nearly the case
than with US, says the Boston Herald. Amer
leans, as "A rule, live too fast 10 live long.
Every person Is originally endowed with
about so large stock Of vitality out OF
which 10 fashion his life. It amounts TO
nothing more nor less than the simplest OF
problems m arithmetic TO show that IL he
draws upon this stock twice US heavily as he
should, the duration Of his existence will
only be one-half Of what II was originally
intended 10 be. Indeed, the matter stands
much worse than this; his life is likely 10
be at any moment suddenly cut on short
long before reaching even the half. A steam
engine may use up its fuel In two weeks or
one, according 10 the rate at which II Is
driven; II II ~ sufficiently overworked tho
result may be a general smash" or such
an Injury IA will necessitate long and
tedious stopping fer repairs" u, indeed, IL
ever becomes las good as new" We hard
ly seem ready 20 recognize tho bounds es-
tablishod by nature, but when we have
reached them, In our greed and ambition,
we summon our will, and, rs tho expression
runs, Give upon our nerve," congratulating
ourselves on our praisoworthy display OF
American goahoadativencss. Unfortu-
nately nature has not got become sufficient
ly progressive In her ideas 20 manufacture
constitutions expressly for the American
market, and, In the midst OF our triumphant
tour do force, click, something snaps, and
we vanish from tho stage or break down
for years, perhaps for life.
What are tho causes Of sudden death-as
by n stroke Of lightuingi They arc not
many when only the so-cailed natural acct
donts arc considered Death on the instant
may result from apoplcxy, or bursting Of
an aneurism within the chest or abdomen;
a may be- caused by the bursting OF an alb
scess within the chest Great mental
shock-as from extreme anger or griof OF
even joy-somctimcs kills instantly through
total paralysis 81 the chief nerve centers.
Cases Of sudden death from hemorrhaRes
Of tho lungs are ON record, but they are few
In number. Diseases Of the heart render
the subject liable to instant death. and they
arc the most frequent causes.
Something may be- said descriptive Of
these accidents and diseases which will in
terest the general reader. A correct under.
standing Of them might possibly render US
less liable 10 them. Apopcxy, or, as II il
sometimes called, brain.strolSe, IL usually
due 10 the rupture Of a blood-vessel within
che brain. Instant death Is not the common
result Of this injury, and yet, as already
stated, ~ sometimes occurs. More often
tho victim OF severe attack passes into a
condition Of stupor, called coma, In which
he lies for hours, or even days, and then
dies or slowly RECEIVERS. There are many
influences which are capable OF giving rise
20 this accident, which in n general way we
may attribute 10 ono Of two causes namely,
either the walls OF the blood-Vessel In ques-
ton are weakened by degcncrative changes,
and 40 rupture easily, or they are while
healthy subjected 10 an unusual and too
great pressure from rush OF blood into
thom, and give way In consequence. The
walls Of the blood-vessels degenerate with
age; as one grows old the liability OF their
rupture under sudden increase OF blood
pressure becomes greater. Age Is not the
only cause OF these weakening changes-w
may expect them In all cases where the sys-
TEN Is permanently enfeebled. In an at
tack Of apOpleXy occurring In person who
has passed tho age Of sixty, we should
uHluIAAll NHsNNlt AlAl Aht VI tue
blood-vessol WINS due 10 degeneration Of lie
wallis. But In one younger, who had on
joyed fairly good health. we should expect
90 find that the dirOct cause OF the rupture
WIS too great blood-prcssure. We may
rctard degeneration, although we can not
block the wheels Of time Some men at
ninety are far less liable TO apoplexy
than others Of fifty. In "A great degree tho
liability h n question Of general health.
Hence the fear of apoplcxy should lead us
10 ondeavor TO keep strong and we'll As
we grow old we should avoid those infiu-
cnccs which arc likely to induce sudden and
great rush OF blood 10 the head, such as In,
tense mental excitement as in public
speaking or In a nc Of angcr-violcnt mus
cnlar effort, guttony and drunkenness, etc.
While one dimes at popular cafes he has but
90 look about him and he Is quite sure to see
habits INDUCED provocative Of apoplexy. A
familiar sight IL tho man about sixty years
old whose highest pleasure Is IN tickling his
palate. He II overweight by fully nfty
pounds: his face Il red and shining; he is
full 20 bursting, and looks a. though every
important button on his clothing was threat
ened. One on n warm day gives such =
mnn rs wide y berth rs be would cook
stove; he IL altogether too hot TO cit near
He commences his dinner with an appetizer
--Eonerolly coGhtAal Ahcn ho @t~AS
- nils up" largely on meat and other
"heartyf' foods, All OF which arc washed
down with ono At least, and generally two,
bottles OF lager beer. As he eats and drinks
with ono hand, he fans himself vigorously
with the other, all tho time growing redder
and reddcr, and, finally, when he hoists
himself out Of his char, his face takes a
purplsh hue In consequence OF even that
slight effort Ne IL like a violin when in
tone; every part Of his system IL keyed up,
aRd something ~ sure 10 break u the unus-
ual happens Let such man, soon after
dinner, become violently enraged or shocked
by some unexpected calamity, and the
chances are an attack Of apoplexy Is the
consequence Too much importance has, Il
IA true, been attributed 10 the so-called APP
oplcctc constitution, consisting OF short
ness OF the neck, with considerable cmbOn-
point, and what Is known az fun habit
These characteristics do not mean that thsrs
Il decided tendency to apoplcxy, and yot a
man 40 formed ought 10 live much differ
entity than he who ~ "ianlx and lcanr
An auourism Is = tumor formed By tho
dilation OF an artery, az the result OF the
bursting Of is inner and middle coats II il
more liable 70 occur IN persons In whom de-
Rcncraiivo changes In tho arteries are taxi
ing place. u may 30 directly caused By
great mental excitement, violent cxcrtiOn,
hfiin1. etc. or local injury. The largcr The