The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-01-09
GENERAL PAREsIs.
II Is a New Disease and Strictly Am
erlcan All Through.

"Dled OF general paresls
Again and again during the past nVe years
this has been the verdict in the case OF peo-
pie noted for their brilliat mental attain |
ments. until the very name paresis conveys |
feeling of terror to the minds OF many.
And well IL may, for it means madness and |
death to its victims. Nothing can save the
person afflicted with the disease. First comes
clouding Of the mental faculties, which is
scarcely perceptible. Only to the expert has
II any meaning. Generally the afflicted per-
son evinees a weakness for stealing. Small,
worthless things arouse his cupidity, and he
is detected again and again making away
with trifling things,for which he has general
ly not the slightest use. An odd shoe or
glove, an inkstand or penwiper, letters, cups
and saucers. almost anything that comes In
his way are surreptitiously appropriated,
With this mania comes gradual oblitera
tion OF the fine lines of the face. 1t assumes
adoughy, puffy appearance, and the pupils
OF the eyes are irregular. Then comes a
recklessness in regard to money matters,
produced by illusions of limitless or easily
gotten wealth. For this reason most per
sons, when they are finally stricken helpless
by the disease, are compelled to seek shelter
in public institutions. While STILL as far as
their friends can see, in the full enjoyment
OF their faculties, they buy everything that
strikes their fancy, generally using up all
their ready cash and plunging. into debt as
deeply as possible. Ii their fancy runs to
jewelry they buy diamonds, rings and
watches until their funds or credit give out.
The minds Of others again run to furniture
and they pile great quantities of furnishings
up in their homes, frequently enough to
stock them dozen times over. Others have
mania for horses, carriages, clothing or
perhaps even real estate and bonds, bought
with an utter disregard for their value or
the ability TO pay.
These extravagances generally became so
noticeable that friends and relatives inter-
fere says the New York Press. An examin
alton Is held and generally the person is dis
charged, for rarely can sherfff's iury he
found that will adjudge a person insane
against whom nothing more than extraya-
CANT eccentricities can be charged. But the
disease marches on steadily. The illusions
of wealth and grandeur become more and
more pronounced. Then follow thickness
OF speech and a failing memory. The face
becomes more puffy and the fine lines are al
most oDllterated. simultaneously, too, there
frequently appears hating or unsteadiness
In the gait and paresis has its hold firmly fas-
tened. Generally the disease runs its course
within two years. 1t rarely takes longer 10
nrlng the victim to the grave, though some
few cases are known where death was fought
on for a longer period. But dissolution is in
evitable. No remedy has yet been found that
will stay the disease. Even if the patient is
taken in hand at the earliest possible stage
nothing,..so far as known at present, can save
him.. Decay can be made more gradual, but
IL is inevitable
A few alleged cases of paresis have been
recorded IN which the patients recovered.
but the most eminent authorities on INSANITY
agree that in these instances there must have
been an improper diagnosis that the patients
were not suffering from. paresis, but FROM
some other brain trouble. AS the disease
progresses IL is pitiable TO watch the victim.
The power OF articulation becomes weaker
with each day, until finally the patient can
only stutter out his words. painfully with the
Nall l. f..sx A..n
more laborious. The limbs totter under the
body, and at last it requires the assistance of
an attendant If the patient wants to get about.
The face assumes brutal appearance. All
the muscles of the body are afflicted with a
painful tremor, the hands particularly,
twitching constantly. The mind is filed with
the most wonderful illusions.
No matter how low the paretic NAV be he
is supremacy happy. His surroundings are
nothing TO him. Though he may know that
he Is In an insane asylum, that he is consid-
cred nopelessiy crazy by the people about
MN, ne lesls that the delusion is theirs, and
not even the TACT that he is restrained of his
liberty can make him unhappy. To him mill
lions are nothing. He has magnificent
houses, countless servants, and on his death |
bed Will invite you with CHASTITY hospitality |
TO ride the broad seas with him in his golden /
ships
In hideous mockery of his physical and /
mental decrepltnde the victims of paresis is /
always OF robust appearance. As the disease
progresses in its ravages, his body grows TAI.
and TO the inexperienced eye he seems when
IN repose, magnificent specimen Of man
MOOD. His appetite is never tagging, and
his powers of digestion are marvellous The
disease affects only the higher neryous sys
TEN, and leaves the nerves of the lower or
der unimpaired. All the involuntary func-
LIONS Of the body are carried ON without in
in perfect health.
Until within the past five or six wears the
ulsease was comparatively unknown to the
fsneIal puzzle and even among the medical
fraternity II was but little understood |
Wnen poor John Mccullough was first /
stricken down at Chicago it was ascribed |
10 sOftsning of the brain, and under this |
h h thousands Of cases of genuine paresis /
nave been recorded. McCullough's case led /
70 closer study of the disease, and it was /
learned what his ailment was.
alcoholism was also generally COMPOUNDED |
Win paresls, and 1t is only in late years, with
the dllterence between the two can be ascer-
talned from diagnosis. Since it has been |
fnlly understood, the number of cases of par |
ISIS tlat nave been recorded in this country |
nave reached the thousands, Every lunetic
asylum In the land has paretic wards. and /
Willie ghe disease is still only specifically /
understood by the public, its horrors and |
n nOpslessIhess are fully appreciated. The |
constantly recurring cases among prominent |
people Of the country. have tended to Eean
the subject before the public.
When the shock of McCollough's death /
h haa only partially subsidized Barley Camp
nounced- The late Charles De,monico liz /
was asserted, was also victim az general /
paresis.. Lately Tony Hart, who is almost |
as well known out of New York as in In. has |
Deen stricken with the dread disease. and |
ROBERT Garrett is said to be dying from the /
same cause.
The disease is brought on principally by |
iast or unnatural living, and no man who |
ieads moral life is likely to have general |
PaIesls, although there may be other causes.
Ia the nrst place, the disease is hereditary /
me person afflicted with it may lead a per
let me ana still become a victim of paresis,
because ne has been tainted from the father |
OF mothers side. Besides, dissipation isn't |
necessarily meant when we speak of a man
street brokers, for instance. Many of them
dle from paresis brought ON by the constant
1xcitement and whirl in which they live
LACK OF rest and improper hours will pro-
e el II, worrying VIII bring 1t on, and seri-
ous business troubles often cause il. Be-
cause cause man has general paresis it does not
lollow that his has been bad life But |
mar. man VINO lives fast is far more liable to con-
t S,s the disease than any one else This is |
err ne ~ GENERAL breaking down of the high
ave- a anIs system, caused by a wa >ting |
SSmaf aho shrinking Of the brain. After |
usath the paretics brain has the appearanr,s
oa Gneese when " u cutinto It. There are
ter T rbana noies al through the gray mat
Inc lncre ase in the disease of late wears
- acc0Us Itad for partly because ii is so much |
petite. known and understood, and cases |
o.merly incorrectly diagnosed are now prOp |
erly classide and partly, also, because 1t is |
rapidly aud constantly on the increase with
the increase of fast life. That its ext stence
is mainly due to fast living is evlder.t from
the fact that In the country genera paresis |
Is unknown.