The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1888-10-31
ONE OF NATURES LAWS.
COMPENSATION FOR THOSE WHO
SUFFER PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENTs.

GOfFIn F7ftF otSftt- itsfFf-ittttiEtNto.
Ono May Live Long Time with Heart
Disease-One Lung May DO the Work
Of Two for Many Natures JUS
tice.
Nature has imposed upon the world Of life
her storms, earthquakes, ETC., which are
called Sublime manifestations Of her su-
preme power" She has exposed her children
to accidents, which through no effort Of their
own can they escape She has also fxed
penalties for voluntary transgression and
violation of her laws. But. beyond that, in
her infinite mercy, she has established a law
of compensation for all unfortunates who
suffer, and nowhere else is its application
more clearly evident than in the victims OF
physical impairments She has provided
that, within certain limits, if any part Of
the system or function Of man becomes de-
ranged or disabled-unable to do its work
properly other parts, through their reserve
power, shall do additional work, and so COM
pensate for the infirmity.
Take, for instance, the heart When dis
ease, say of the valves, first begins to show
itself, at once other changes in that organ
commence to obviate, in great measure, the
imperfection. In using a pump, IL the valves
are sound, less effort is required by us than
IL they are imperfect, and allow some Of the
water to fall back into the well. Inasmuch
as they are inefficient, just SO much harder
we must work and take so many more strokes
of the pump, II we would keep up the same
flow Of water which we could raise IL the
valves were in perfect condition. So it is
when the valves Of the heart do not close
tightly, but allow some Of the blood to re-
cede; it must labor all the harder. For such
condition as this nature has provided. She
causes the walls Of the heart to grow thicker,
and hence makes that organ more powerful
By thus compromising for the valvular dis
ease, the general condition of the person may
for long time be but little changed. He
may even enjoy comparatively good health
for years, and his infirmity only be discov-
cred by accident
This law OF compensation is clearly evil
dent in what are called hunchbacks. AS a
rule, they are SO frail looking one would not
expect them to be able to fight severe dis
ease, and yet they have resistant and reac-
tive power which is simply wonderful.
Strong, robust children taken down with
disease often succumb when these deformed
unfortunates, Frustrated with an attack Of
the same and Of equally severe type, recover.
Where there are two like organs in the
body, IL one is injured the other takes on a
greater activity and strength, and assumes
additional burden. If one lung Is crippled
by an accident, in time the other may be so
changed it will do very well the work de-
signed for both. Cases are not infreouent
where one kidney has become absolutely use-
less, and has even been removed, and yet the
person suffered little or none, apparently.
from its loss. This law Of compensation the
physician and surgeon ssneets at every turn,'
as he labors for his patients. 1t is one on
which he must rely much. We have said
that perfection of health Is purely ideal; that
it never actually exists The average man is
far from the enjoyment OF perfect health.
Were human bodies transparent, there would
be revealed abnormalities in all, and even In
some Of those apparently fairly well there
would DO found diseases which it would seem
must soon prove fatal, and yet tho victims Of
them resist death fer years
1t is a popular belief that IL the lungs once
become even III slight degree affected, con-
sumption Is sure to result, and yet it IS safe
70 say that there - scarcely {. person living
who hes pcrfootly healthy lungs. Nearly ali.
II not all, have some time or other during
their lives suffered from trouble In those
important organs. which have healed and
become perfectly sound again. The extent
TO which the liver may DO diseased, and yet
the general health remain fairly good, is
something to marvel at For instance, cir
rhosis OF the liver, or, as it Is sometimes
called, s'gin liver,p is a degenerative change
In that organ, which, IL not arrested which
is rarely possible. ultimately destroys it and
life The disease is usually very far adj
vanced before tho victim fully realizes that
ne ~ timing IN neaitn. Inc other organs in
tne system 90 the iiyers work, and its par
tai loss Is scarcely felt. Diseases OF tho
stomach, as rule, soon make themselves
apparent, and yet some remain concealed, or
their presence is merely suspected, for years.
physicians who are employed as examiners
for insurance companies, endowment socie-
ties and tho like will testify that diseases Of
tho kidneys-as bllghts disease--are in very
many cases nrst disclosed by their analysis,
and while che victims believe themselves to
DC IN good health, never having had symp-
tom winch leo them TO even suspect that
dread complaint.
Ana so we might 60 on, calling attention
70 each organ OF the body separately, and
teiiing now iittlo evidence OF even serious
impairment - sometimes offered to the vic
Tim. were TINS conditlon OF Things changed,
did nature less faithfully observe her law OF
compensation ana conceal existing inhrmi-
bies, ~ mighp DO petter Tor some, but certainly
noc ior others. ~ mere Ignorance Is bliss,
cue. ~ IS sometimes well that we should not
Know our weaknesses II we were the victim
or an incurnDle disorder many OF us would
prefer 70 live on in ignorance until the fact
dawned upon u.s.
There are but few diseases which, IL recog-
nized early and proper treatment is applied,
CANNOT be permanently arrested, IL not
wholly cured None Is more dreaded than
consumption; yet that disease-popularly
supposed to be fatal--can positively be cured
IL taken in time. Those who do die Of It
rarely consult a physician until sstoo laten
OF being ''told the worst;6 they prefer tho
condition of doubt TO that Of crave cer-