The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1888-11-24

l" eye he seems, when in repose,
magnificent specimen of manhood
His appetite is never tagging, an
= his powers of digestion are marvel
= Gus. The disease affects only tn
: higher nervous system, and leave
!, the nerves of the lower order unim
;, paired. All the involuntary func
9 : tions of the body are carried OF
: without interruption, just as though
y the patient were in perfect health
Until within the past five or 81,
years the disease was comparatively
unknown to the general public, anc
even among the medical fraternity
, 1T was but little understood. Wher
poor John Mccullough was first
stricken down at Chicago it was as
crlbed to softening of the brain
and under this name thousands OF
cases of genuine paresis have been
recorded. McCullough's case led
to a closer study of the disease
and it was learned what his ailment
really was.
| Alcoholism was also generally
confounded with paresis, and it is
only in late years, with better
knowledge of the symptoms, that
the difference between the two can
be ascertained from diagnosis.
Since it has been fully understood,
the number of cases of paresis that
have been recorded in this country
have reached the thousands. Every
lunatic asylum in the land has par
etic wards, and while the disease is
still only specifically understood
by the public, it's horrors and hope
lessness are fully appreciated. The
constantly recurring cases among
prominent people of the country,
have tended to keep the subject be-
fore the public.
When the shock of McCullough's
death had only partially subsided
BARLEY Campbell's insanity from
the same cause was announced.
The late Charles Delmonico, it was
asserted, was also a victim of GEN.
eral paresis. Lately Tony Hart,
who is almost as we'll known out of
New York as in it, has been stricken
with the dread disease, and Robert
Garrett is said to be dying from the
same cause.
The disease is brought on prin-
cipally by fast or unnatural living.
"No man who leads a model life
is likely to have general paresis,"
said Dr. Shanks, Superintendent of
the Kings County Insane Asylum,
to a reporter of the Press.
"Can no man who does not dis
sipate be attacked with it?"
Il won't say that, by any means.
There may be other causes. In the
first place, the disease is hereditary.
The person afflicted with it may |
lead perfect life and still become
a victim of paresis, because he has
been tainted from the father or
mothers side. Take the Wall-street
brokers, for instance. Many of
them die from paresis brought on
by the constant excitement and
whirl in which they live. Lack of
rest and improper hours will pro-
duce it; worrying will bring it on,
and serious business troubles often
cause it. Because man has gen.
eral paresis it does not follow that
his has been bad life. But man
who lives fast is far more liable to
contract the disease than any one
else"
"To what is it due?"
"a general breaking down of the
higher nervous system, caused by
a wasting away and shrinking of |
The brain. After death the paretic's
brain has the appearance Of cheese
when you cut into it. There are
small round holes all through the
gray matter. These are caused by
,he shrinking"
"How do you account for the in
crease of the disease of late years?" ..
Partly because it is so much bet
er known and understood, and ca
les formerly incorrectly diagnosed !
ire now properly classified, and !
partly, also, because it is rapidly !
md constantly on the increase with :
he increase of fast life. That its !.
existence is mainly due to fast liy- :
ng is evident from the fact that in :
he country generally paresis is un- :
,nown. It is only in the large !,
tiles, where opportunities for dis .
ipation abound, that it has q foot y
lold, and it is here that it is on the +
Increase. | was assistant superin- :
endent at the Oshkosh, Wis, In J
ane Asylum for long time, and 7
re scarcely had case; whereas, in 6
ur asylum here, we have at pres = =
mt about seventy-fve men and !
wenty women who are dying from =
aresis." :.
"Then it prevails more among men - -
han among women?" Q Q
"Yes, far more. In fact the aver y y
ge percentage among women is very = =
mall. Their mode of life is diff =
,rent, as a general thing, and then
1ey are better constituted physi-