The Red Cloud chief., 1889-07-26
THE FAMILY PHYSICIAN.

THE FAMILY PHYSICIAN.
A H.r.sst and Able Plea f.r The Proven
ton Of Disease.
He shO2ld have constant opportuni-
~ to know just what is the physical
condition of each member of the FAM
lily il the absence OF any manifest ev.
idence of disease. To this end period
ical examinations should be made Of
such a character as to reveal any
lurking morbid tendency without
waiting for its development into
actual disease. There should he no
such a thing as a discoverable affec-
ton remaining undiscovered Death
from unsxspccted heart Or kidney dis
ease. for example. should cease to be
possible. There should be no more
histories like the following, now so
frequently repeated:
A person supposed to be in good
health is fastening along the street.
perhaps h%urrying to catch Il train
All at n he is seen to staggcr and
fall Passers = by rush to his as.
sistanee, but he gasps a few times.
and, before any aid can be rendered,
he Il dead. An autopsy reveals that
he had fatty degeneration Of the
heart, and the extra demand made
upon the heart by the unusual exer.
ton was more than its enfeebled walls
could respond to- He was not aware
Of tho existence Of this condition. but
If his doctor had merely laid his finger
On his pulse his suspicion would have
been aroused, and listening to the
aeart would Immediately have con-
drmed it. BY proper treatment and
the avoidance Of severe exertion the
catastrophe might have been averted
for many years, and the usual limit Of
life might perhaps have been at.
tanned.
Or again, a gentleman who has
thought himself quite we'll goes as
usual in the morning to his place Of
business. A few hours later he is
brought home in a carriage in a state
Of Inconsistencies. In spite Of the
most prompt and judicious treatment
he does not recOver from his coma. On
the contrary. commissions set in, and
in the course of a few hours he dies.
Unknown to him or to his family he
has been suffering from Bright's dis
ease, the symptoms being latent up to
the last moment. Yet a very simple
examination would have revealed to
his doctor the actual condition of at
fairs. and by proper care and proper
the fatal termination might
have been almost indefinitely deferred.
The records of examinations by tho
OF life insurance companies
show numerous instances in which
very serious disease exists without be-
ing suspected either by the patient or
friends This fact, in addition to
the frequency Of cases such as those
above. is enough to show
the extreme importance of a system by
which the actual condition of persons
not consciously i'll should be periodi-
cally investigated.
In view of this it should be a part Of
the duty of the family physician to
make Il thorough physical examina-
ton OF every member of the family at
least twice a year. and in the case Of
feeble or delicate person at much
intervals. The results of these
examinations should be fully recorded.
and the record kept in possession OF
the doctor. to be transmitted to his sue
cessor. A record of this kind would
possess immense value, not only for
The persons Immediately interested
but also for their posterity. Il is by
the vital history Of the par
snts that we know what to expect in
The children. Heredity is an influence
which it is difficult to estimate. for the
reason that the absence of records
prevents Dur tracing it backward in
The family history Yet we know that
this influence may shape the physical
of generations to come. DR..
Holmes has said that the proper time
10 begin the treatment Of some dis.
Eases is q hundred yeas~ before the
Ct the patient. He might have
added that the treatment sometimes
reeds to be continued for q hundred
1ears after his death.
But the opportunity afforded to the
physician to ward of injurious
influences from these under his care
night be extended much farther. Il |
should be within his province to indi-
ate what occupations were suitable to
. given youth. and what. in the inter-
,sts OF his health, should be avoided !
lie should be able to prevent u feeble. |
ll-nourished, naRrOw-chested lad being
tut behind q desk IN = countipg-room,
vhere tho tendency 70 pulmonary dis
'sse already existing would certainly
70 developed He should have suuh a
'oice in the selection of boarding.
chools as would prevent the children
'eing sent, TO institutions in qnhealth-
I'll localities. or in which there was
anger from defective sanitary pre-
auti0ns. In the. selection of a new
yelling. and even. in choosing a sum-
aer resort, his Judgment As to the