Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-04-15
PARALYZLNG PARESIS.
The Disease which Threatens
Rrnin WOrkers.

|
The Disease which Threaten
Brain workers.
Paresis is disease of compar ativel
modern growth. Americans are its VII
tins more than any other people o
earth. 1t loves brilliant mark, and th
best and brainiest of our land become il
prey. 1t is incurable. When once With
its clutches the subject undergoes liv
ing death; slow, tortuous, deceptiv
one, but still the dark river is inevitabl
reached.
There are many causes which inducl
paresis-oyerwork, overindulgence in al
coholic beverages, tobacco or narcotics o
other excesses.
People of small mental caliber neet
not fear paresis, provided they do no
cripple their brains by over.indulgence
in liquor
Statistics show that but one per cent Of
the cases reported are women.
From the time when the first traces oil
the disease are apparent, but three years
are required to consign the patient to the
grave. There are cases where the pa
tient fingers on for twelve or fourteen
years. This only occurs where the pa
tient is given to alcoholic and narcotic
excesses and possesses, in addition, 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 lustreless, his muscles
tiabby, and flesh that of corpse. In
word, he is helpless idiot, tortured by
dark hallucinations, tormented by phys
ical fears, and death finally comes as
glad release.
Brilliant men are the first to fall be-
meath its insidious advance. Bankers,
lawyers, editors, actors, playwrights, and
even doctors, compose the greater part
of the roll of its victims. In the very
fact that its progress is insidious the
danger lies. When the symptoms are
discovered the patient has gone beyond
hope of recovery. Once the work of
mental disintegration begun, the only
end is the grave.
quently misunderstood by many people.
1t is generally supposed to be insanity
pure and simple with new name. 1t is
the fashion nowadays to call all forms of
mental disturbance paresis. 1t is par
alyzing of the nerve fibres. The disease
has increased alarmingly 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. Syphilis and alcoholism fire.
quently induce it.
II have seen innumerable cases of
paresis in the asylums, and many in my
private practice, and find as rule that
tho disease attacks those primarily dissi
pated and who are addicted to great
deal of irregular amount OF menial work.
Generally the first symptoms begin with
dependency or depression, which is fol-
lowed after time with wonderfully ex-
travagent ideas. Some subjects believe
that they can make enormous
wealth by the carrying out OF scheme
or idea they cherish. Others believe
they have heaven-born mission to do
something good and great for their fellow
man, such as the establishment of new
faiths or doctrines. The schemes are
always colossal. The Victim of paresis |
never entertains anything small. When |
under the domination of these delusions, |
the subject is influenced by his surround |
ipgs, and is likely to treat with violence |
any one who questions his powers or
belief.
"After this period has passed away, |
there may be cessation OF the symp- |
toms of paresis, and his friends begin to |
hope that the patient may recover. The |
period may last five or six months. but
with the certainty of faith the apparent |
soundness of mind vanishes and the wild |
mental pictures return with greater force |
than before The disease then makes |
its way, with probably recurring periods |
Of sanity, but they are always /
shorter, and the inevitable end comes.
"With the progress of the disease the
frame wastes away, the strength leaves 1
the patient, the muscles become fiabby, |
and general paralysis sets in. At the |
last stage of his illness the patient be-
comes devoid of consciousn ess, incapable
Of motion, his eyes are lustreless, saliva
oozes, from his mouth, and he fades |
away from earth. i
"Men are almost always the victims of
paresis, and they generally vary in age |
from forty to forty-five years. Only
per cent. or thereabout of known cases
Of paresis are women. Alcohol, syphilis
and overwork in an irregular way and
in irregular hours, are the causes OF
paresis.
Excessive mental work, with recourse
TO narcotlcS, alconoilc or oJneI SUM ulant5;
frequently causes paresis. This is fire.
quently exemplified in the case of
bankers, lawyers, journalists, and others
who insist upon working sixteen hours
day, and who employ stimulants to keep
up their strength instead of getting
natural rest.
DR.. Joseph Mcdonald, who was con-
spicuons figure at the Berlin and Copen-
hagen medical conferences, was the next
seen by the reporter.
"Paresisl" !" he exclaimed, "well, | can
give any man sure recipe for getting
it. Let him persistently work night and
day, take no exercise, scheme in his
office continually for power or wealth,
and, when mentally fatigued, brace up
OH absinthe, tobacco, take quack nos
Lrums, which half the time contain