The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-12-09
THE MARCH TO DEATH
WHAT PHYSICIANS SAY coNceH:
ING GENERAL PAHes's' =
.,,s,.e,sri.tic. Of Sew American p''s
weakening Minds Filled with s"s.
..u,o,,.,,oo,--Ths Results Of -
r,fe-<o Remedy.

ole noted for their brilliant iue"ees
,,en,s until the verv name parcsis conveys
fs.l,pu OF terror to the mind, OF many. ana
III = ,,,,,, soy II means madness and deefn
10 It's victims
Nothing can save the person afflicted WIZ
the disease First comes cioudin2 OF ~
mental faculties, which IL scarcely pcrcepo'
bic. Only u the cxDsrt has t. any meaning
Generally the afflicted perscn syincee
weaknes, for stealing. S,uau, wortn1e
things arouse he cupidty, and iis 10 detocese
again aid again making away with TiuI:9
things, for which he hss generally NOT ~
slightest Use. An odd shoe or glove, an -
stand or penvipcr, letters, cups aad ssueet
almost auyth.u. that comes ia his way, ~
surrep:.tioasly appropriated.
With this mania cones gradual obifoo4
ton OF the fine lines Of tho face. It ASSUMES
douyhy, puff appearance, and the pups
osths eyes are irregular Then comes reck-
lessnesS IN regard 70 money matters, pro-
duced by illusions Of lnltless or easily GOT
ten wealth. For this reason most PERSONS
when they ara finally stricken helpless by
the disease, are compelled to seek shelter b
public institutions While still, as far 90
their friends can see, Ia tae tull enjoymenf
OF their faculties. they buy everything that
strikes their fancy, generally using up all
their ready cash aud pluDging into debt -
deeply as possible. IL their fancy RUS to
jowelry thay buy diamonds, rings ami
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
q mauia Tor horses, carriages, clothing or
perhaps even real estate aud bonds, bought
with an utter disregard for their value or the
ability 70 pay.
These extravagsnces generally become 50
Noticeable that friends and relatives inter-
fere An examination Is held and generally
the person is discharged, for rarely can
sheriR's jury be found that VIII ndjudge .
person insane against whom nothing moro
than extravagant eccentricities can b.
charged. But tho disease marches on
steadily. The illusions Of wealth and grand
eur become more aha moro pronounced-
Then follow a thickness OF speech aud fail
ing memory The face becomes moro puffy
and the fine lines are almost obliterated.
simultaneously, too, there frequently APP
pears a hating or unsteadiness In the gait.
aud paresss has its hold firmly fastened.
Generally the disease runs is course within
two years. IL rarely takes longer 10 bring
.bs victim 10 tue grave, though some few
cases are known where death was fought Ok
for longer period. But dissolution Il in-
evltable. No remedy has yet been found
that viii stay the disease Even II the
patient is taken in hand at tho earliest possi-
,f }. l. NJ.
ent, can save him. Decay can be made aors
gradual, but It is inevitable.
As the disease progresses II is pttiabls to
watch the victim. The power Of articulation
becomes weaker with each day, until.
Gnally, the patient can only stuttsr
out bis words painfully with the
greatest effort. Walking becomes more
and more laborious The limbs tottsr
under the body, aud at last he requires tbs
assistance Of an attendant II the patient
wants to get about. The face assumes Q
brutal appearance. All tho muscles of the
body are afflicted whn painful tremor, the
hands particularly, t~i;chiDg constantly.
Tho MUD is lled With the most wonderful
illusions.
10 matter low low the paretic may bs ks
is supremacy happy. Ills surroundings ars
nothing 70 him Though h. may know that
be Is in az insane asylum, that he Is consid-
cred hopelessly crazy by tho people about
him, 10 feels that the delusion is theirs, and
not even the fact that 10 Is restrained Of his
liberty eau make him unhappy. To him mil
lions arc nothing. He has magn:hoent
houses, countless servants. and on his death
bed he will invite you with CHASTITY hospi.
tally to rlds the broad seas With him In bis
golden ships. In Lideous mockery Of his
physical and mental decrepitude tho victim
Of paresls Is always OF robust appearance.
As the disease progresses in its ravages his
body grows fat, and 70 the inexperienced eye
he seems when in reposc, a magnificent spe-
ctnlen OF manhood His appetite Is never
tagging and his powers Of digestion are mar
relons The disease affects only the higher
nervous system, and leaves tho nerves OF the
lower order unimpaired All the inyolun-
tary functions OF the body are carried on
without interruption just as though the pa
tient were IN perfect health.
no man who leads model life Is likely to
have general paresis, said Dr. Shanks, super
intendent OF the Kings County Insans
asylum, 70 reporter Of Tue Press
''Caa no maa who does lot dissipats be at
tackled with i'll"
r won't say that. by any means. There
may be other causes. In the first place. the
disease Is hereditary. The person Afflicted
with IL may lead perfect life and still b.
come . victim Of parcsis, because be has been
tainted from toe father or motherb eide.
Besilcs, dissipation 10 not necessarily meant
when we speak Of man not leading model
lite Take the Wall street brokers, for In
stance Many Of thon die from pssNsla
brought On Ivy tie constant excitemsnt and
whirl in which they live. Lack Of ress and
improper hours will produce tt: worrying
viii bring il On, and serious business troubles
often cause il. Because a man has gensrai
pagesis IL does rot follow that bis has osen .
bad life. But man who lives fast u far
more liable to contract tha disease than any
one else"
To what is It duef'
"A general breaking down Of tho higher
nervous system, caused by a wasting away
aud shrinking OF the brain After death the
paretic's brain has the appearance Of chesas
when you cut into it. There are small round
holes al through tho gray matter These are
caused by the shrinking
How do you account for tho increase In
tie disease q late yearsf'
Partly because it is so much better known
and understood, and cases former.y tnccr.
rcctly diagnosed are now properly clasni6sd,
and partly, also, because 1. il rapidly and
constantly on the increase with tia ircreoss
Q; fast he That its existence 10 mainly due
to fast living Is evident from tho fact that In
the country general paresii Is ankfowu IL
% only in the large cities, where cpportunitlss
for dissipation abound. that Il has a foothokd.
anl It Is hero tba, Is Is on the incressAaC
New York Press.