The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1889-12-28
ALL ABOUT PARESIS.
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An Insidious Disease WhiohY De
stroys Many Brain. w orkers.v

The Theories Of Some Noted Physioians--
Once Afflicted with the Brain Destroy
er' the Patiea.'s oniy Hope Isl
the Grave-PromInent Victims,
Paresis is disease of comparatively mod
ern growth. Americans are its victims
more than any other people on earth. 1t
loves brilliant mark, and the best and
bralnest OF our land become it's prey. 1t is
incurable. When once within its clutches
the subject undergoes living death;
slow, tortuous, deceptive one, but still the
dark river is inevitably reached. y =.
There are many causes which induce
paresis-overwork, overindulgence in aco-
none beverages, tobacco or narcotics or
otner excesSes. eA~A
People of small mental caliber need not
rear paresls, provided they do not cripple
thelr brains by overindulgence in liquor.
STATISTICS show that but one per cent of
the cases reported are women. .sss...%sA
From the time when the first traces of
the disease are apparent but three years are
required to consign the patient to the grave.
There are cases where the victim lingerson
Tor twelve or fourteen years. This only oc-
and narcotic excesses and possesses in ad-
dition great physical powers. For three
quarters OF that period he is pitiable sight.
His frame is without the slightest spark of
life, his eyes are lusterless, his muscles
f1abby and flesh like that of q corpse. In
word, he is helpless idiot, tortured by
dark hallucinations, tormented by physical
fears, and death finally comes as q glad re-
lease ~.
Brilliant men are the first to fall beneath
Its lnsidious advances. Bankers, lawyers,
editors, actors, playwrights and even doc
tors compose the greater part of the roll Of
its victims. In the very fact that its prog
ress Is insidious the danger lies. When
the symptoms are discovered the patient
has gone beyond hope of recovery. Once
the work OF mental disinteragtion begun,
the only end is the grave. -.s.m,A5Au.SAs
The striking popularity of paresls, para
doxlcal as the statement may seem, is it's
apparent suddenness. A strong, vigorous
man, In the prime of life-the president of
railroad, II you please-a man endowed
with physical and mental attributes to an
extraordinary degree, is suddenly stricken
down and compelled to take a long rest. He
goes to Europe, visits the land OF the Cid,
wanders about the catacombs and inhales
the breezes of the Mediterranean at Monte
Carlo. He finally returns to work, but is
incapable of effort. He leaves his desk.
The process of mental disinteragtion goes
ON and the inevitable end is calmly waited
This case is like thousands Of others.
When the victim shows the first symptoms
his "breaking down" is thought to be due to
overwork. Friends urge that brief rest
will restore him to his usual condition. 1t
does not. The mind grows weaker. The
body, strange to say, seems to develop
Finally the mind becomes warped, dark
pictures come before it, and the body fails.
The patient can not sleep, has excruciating
pains in the head, eats abnormally, but
without preserving the physical powers, and
finally the body, like the mind, wastes away
to mere skeleton. Then comes death. r-,.s
Sometimes the victim rallies q bit. He
seems to regain in q measure his mental
control, and is permitted to test his strength
OF intellect again in business or professional
pursuits. Then the reaction comes quick
and sudden. The mind resumes it's defect
i've condition; the same phantasmagorla
ahilct 1t; the same painful hallucinations
terrify it. Then comes the end. --..---~- Y
Dr. Allan McLane Hamilton, the famous
specialist and a recognized authority upon
mental diseases, gave New York Star re-
porter q few facts about the remarkable
disease:
"Paresis," SAID DIR. Hamilton, sis fire.
quently misunderstood by many people. It
is generally supposed to be insanlty-pure
and simple-with a new name 1t is the
fashion nowadays to call all forms of mem
tai disturbance paresis. 1t is a paralyzing
OF the nerve tibers. The disease has in
creased alarmingly in this country within
the last eight or ten years, and from what
can learn is dependent directly upon vice
and not upon the overworking of the brain.
Alcoholism frequently induces it. t.S~~s
"Ihave seen innumerable cases of paresis
In the asylums, and many in my private
practice, and find, as rule, that the disease
attacks persons who are primarily dissipat-.
ed and who are addicted to great or irreg-
ular amount Of mental work. Generally the
first symptoms begin with feelings Of de-
spondency or depression, which is followed
after time by wonderfully extravagant
ideas. Some subjects believe that they can
make enormous wealth by carrying out
scheme or idea they cherish. Others be-
Heve they have heaven born mission to do
something good and great for their fellow
man, such as the establishment of new
lalths or doctrines. The schemes are al
ways colossal. The victim of paresis never
ehtertains any thing small. When under
the domination Of these deusons the sub
'ectis hkely to treat with violence any one