The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-12-09
TER RIBLE "A RESTS.
AN INCURABLE DISEASE THAT
BLIGHTS THE BRAIN,

BL1GHTS THE BRAIN.
Alarmingly Rapid Growth of the Mala-
dy-No Other Land SO Cursed by it
as This-The Causes That Induce It
Highly Interesting Discussion of 1t
bv the Eminent Expert, DR.. A. Mol.
Hamilton.
NEW YORK, Dec. Sew weeks go by
now in W ich the community is not startled
by the intelligence that some man of promi-
nence has suddenly become insane Some
act of sudden and unreasonable violence or
the demonstration of some astounding delu-
sion compels attention to his condition Then,
friends and relatives remember that he has
been for some time ''acting queerly" and
the question. chow long has his mind been
affected u is one that awakens much excited
interest, specially among those having bust
ness relations with him, or concerned in
his estate. REST and quiet will speedily re.
store him." say his friends, and SO physi-
clans profess to hope. He is secluded in an
ASYLUM, or in some private rural retreat
The next that is heard of him is that ex-
perts in cerebral affections have pronounced
his disease ''Paresis" Paresiss The horror
of the age; slow death in life; a malady as
incurable and inevitably fatal as leprosy-
that is Paresis.
Perchance, after a time, the victim NAV
seem to rally, to regain his mental control,
and hopeful friends will doubt the )rrect-
ness Of the physicians diagnosis. But in a
few months the reactions comes, darker and
darker the cloud settles down upon the
afflicted mind, more and more feeble grows
the body, slowly and surely life fades out.
How many instances of this fatal progress
sion might be cited, among men not only
locally prominent, but of national reputa-
ton as playwrlghts, actors mere ants and
financ.ers, were it desirable to call the pain
full roll! At least three, whose names are
known all over the land, are now in or near
New York. awaiting he certain end and
there is not an insane asylum in the country
in which ere are not nu nlerous cases, of per-
sons of minor Individual importance,
doomed to death by Paresis
Generally the disease runs its course in
ab at three years from the time that it I'M
questlonably declares itself, but there are
Ga#es-- where it is induced altogether by
alchhollsnl-in which the end is delayed as
much as ten years, the greater part of
wEica timsthe victim is faced, parayzed
droliing. Helpless and hopeless imbecile or
tortured by the saadest Authorization,
condition from which death would seem to
be a happy release.
As long ago as 1872, this peculiar variety
OF cerebral affection was observed, bat until
fifteen years ago it was rare and had not
Leen so cl sely studied, accurately defined
and the knowledge. concerning
it so systematiZed, as now.
Within ten years it Las constantly, and with
alarming rapidity it increased il the United
States, until now it is not too much to say
that it IS our national terror. In no other
psrt of the world is it so frequent Aud its
blight is most apt to fall upon those who
ere brightest, most mentally active. Stu
pld people have little reason to fear it, if
tney keep sober, nor have women. Not one
per cent. of the cases are those of females
The average woman does not dangerously
strain Ter brain, but many men, in the
eager competition, rapid life and over ex-
citation of train and nerves common to
American existence, do so-and invite
Paresis.
Here is an almost infallible recipe for him
who desires to attain Paress. Let him en-
ergetically and persistently oyerwork him
sell in his study, in his counting house, or
in the maddeniug whirl of the excha lges,
keeping his brain active by night J. plotting
and planning, and by da in striving for
the accomplishment of his schemes. When
he feels weary, eXh listed, nervous and be-
| low par, let him brace up' on alcoholic
stmuiants, maintaining an unnatural excl
tation in his brain by keeping it steadily in
a more or less congested condition, As he
unsatisfactory and inefficient, let him re-
sort to the use of nerve foods j." nerve
| tonics, "''phosphate compounds" and such
like nostrums largely composed of NOR
phine, strychuine and quinine. If he is a
prohIbitlonlst he can resort to
/ resoi t tot ese things, witho 1T going through
| the alcoholic stage OF progress, AID attain
the same end with equal certainty When
he goes away from his business for a brief
vacation, let him take care that he gets to
no place where cannot be informed daily
upon tue state of the markets and where he
VIII be unable to maintain constant com
municatlon with his broker, if he is on the
street; or if he is a literary man, let him
take along WITH him pile of worksthat he
wFl hHve '.Shcb good chance to finish up
n tho quiet OF the country All these
things he may do and still remain quite a
mo al and respectable member of society
II he is in hurry for his Paresis, he may
hAsusd his progress toward it by including
i naneless exeesses, but they are by no means
,Eeentd0Iy, with moderately faithful ad-
Aerence TO- ne course OF life prescribed, he
WIZ likely find himself troubled much b.
seepiessiless; excruciating headaches need
not seem at all Strange to him; his nervous
SYsi en- viii Ne in sucn condition that very
hhght=causeS, or even no causes at all, may
excite, 3hialJos sudden and furious outbursts
~ anger; little noises will shock, annoy or
eS1sperates him; he will have seasons of
Gpp dependency, mental depressions that
sgPreaeh despair alternating with periods
otHfe widest, illnsive hopes. BY that time he
VIE uave his Paresis, beyond all question, and
thereafter it seems needless 10 advise him
farther, as the insanity expert, the asylum
men aud eventually the undertaken will
successfully take charge of him.
Is Il Necessary to suggest that the man
who does not want paresis will. if ihteli-
gent, regulate his life upon lines damatri-
cally opposed to those laid down so clearly
IN tnatrec.pe
DR.. Allan McLane Hamilton, who is
recognized as one of the highest authorities
upon mental diseases in this Country, whea
consulted few days ago upon the subject
said:
Il see great deal of it, in various asy-
lums aud Institutions, as well as in my pri-
Vate practice, and recognize toe fact that
u as been, during ten years pat, steadily
and alarmingly increasing. IC is a disease
incident to the rapid life of this country.
IN maJoi ty of cases it is directly depend
ent upon vice and not upon actual overwork
alone. Alcoholism aud sypnilitic disea.e
are frequently inducing causes.
IL Is the fashion nowadays to
call all form OF ructural disease of the