Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-10-09
ONE OF NATURES LAWS.
COMPENSATION FOR THOSE WHO
SUFFER PHYSICAL lMPAIRMsNTS.

COMPENSATION FOR THOSE WHO
SUFFER PHYSICAL APARTMENTS.
Disease-One Lung May Do the Work
of Two for Many Years-Nature's Jus
tice.
Nature has imposed upon the world of life
her storms, earthquakes. etc, which are
called sublime manifestations OF her su-
preme powern She has exposed her children
to accidents, which through no effort Of their
own can they escape She has also fixed
penalties for voluntary transgression and
violation of her laws. But, beyond that, in
her infinite mercy, she has established 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 nfirmity
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 obyiate, in a great measure, ths
imperfection. In using pump, if the valves
are sound, less effort is required by US than
If they are imperfect, and allow some of the
water to fall back into the we'll 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 if 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
a 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 infir1nitv only be discov-
cred by accident
This. law of compensation is clearly evil
| dent in what are called hunchbacks. As
| rule, they are so frail looking one would not
| expect them to be able to fight severe dis
ease, and yet they have a 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, if one is injured the other takes on
greater activity and strength, and assumes
| additional hurdan II tnnrr is rrinnlad
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 vet the
person suffered little or none, apparently,
from its loss. This law of compensation the
physician and surgeon meets 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
1t never actually exists. The average man is
far from the enjoyment of perfect health.
We're human bodies transparent, there would
be revealed abnormalties in all, and even in
some of those apparently fairly well there
would be found diseases which 1t would seem
must soon prove fatal, and yet the victims of
them resist death for years
} Il is popular belief that If the lungs once
become even in slight degree affected, con-
sumption is sure to result, and yet it is safe
to say that there is scarcely person living
who has perfectly healthy lungs. Nearly all
if 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 be diseased, and YET
the general health remain fairly good, i:
: something to marvel at For instance, cir
5 rhosis of the liver, or, as 1t is sometime:
! called, "gin liver" is degenerative change
! in that organ, which, if not arrested, which
is rarely possible, ultimately destroys it ant
7 | life. The disease is usually very far ad
q vanced before the victim fully realizes tina
v he is failing in health. The other organs il
q the system do the liver's work, and its par
tial loss Is scarcely felt Diseases of tn
b stomach, as rule, soon make themselve
d apparent, and yet some remain concealed, o
It their presence is merely suspected, for years
g Physicians who are employed as examiner
for insurance companies, endowment socie
o ties and the like will testify that diseases o
o the kidneys-as Brights disease-are in yer,
n many cases first disclosed by their analysis
It and while the victims believe themselves +
o be IN good health, never having had symE
/ tom which led them to even suspect tina
q dread complaint
II And so we might go on, calling attentio
is to each organ of the body separately, an
# telling how little evidence of even seriou
l. impairment is sometimes offered to the viz
e tim. Were this condition of things changet
did nature less faithfully observe her law c
| apI nppnao1 a1ric%ircr inf
ties, 1t might be better for some, but certainl
Q not for others. Where ignorance is bliss
IS etc. 1t is sometimes well that we should nc
/ know our weaknesses. If we were the victil
Q Of an incurable disorder many of US woul
/ prefer to live on in ignorance until the fat
|. dawned upon US.
1, There are but few diseases which, if recoj
> nized early and proper treatment is applies
n cannot be permanently arrested, if NJ
D, wholly cured. None is more dreaded tina
,e consumption; yet that disease-popularl
A. supposed to be fatai-can positively be cure
v. If taken in time. Those who do die of
r, rarely consult physician until too late
m being kept back from doing so through fe,
l. of being told the worst" they prefer Il
Ia | condition of doubt TO that of a grave &c
IN tainty. One who is deaf, and, still more S
As one blind, excites intense pity in all. Sti
a specialists in diseases of the ear and eye W
ly testify that in almost all their incurable cas-
r, the victims are long sufferers before tn,
seek relief. Truly, representation is Il
Ia thief of uime,n and when health is threaten
he there are but few who do not give eviden
90 that this grievous fault for once, at least,
n theirs
is Aswe have said, the average man is col
ct PEELED to travel through life in condition
cb health far below the perfect standard. T
a deviations-the ailments-are not only
ok very many instances self inflicted, but tn
I'd can, in great measure, be overcome. T
"a one fault lies deep. The knowledge of hi
N to live. to husband our forces, and to Ike
ourselves near the IDEAL state-perfection
en- health-should be engrafted into our natul
.lv In early youth; it should be among the fl
IA lessons taught US. We should realize frc
va the first that we cannot wrong ourselves
AZ vicious indulgence without being obliged
de suffer therefor. Her "books are well KEEP
perfect justice is done all, and we must mt
'o- and satisfy every charge which matt
- makes against us-Boston Herald.
re- re- A good man with bad friends is liable
'no be misunderstoed.-Balt Sun.
'ue Cost of Aluminium