Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-03-03

u <A2I8Fk nlZed that there are OH
HGSgF ers which, though pos
AkEEV sessing no unsanitary
features, are detrimental
to the organism solely from the accidental
circumstances surrounding them or from
the unremitting energy with which they are
pursued. Thus the workers in lead, if not
extremely careful, and even at times, in
spite of all the precautions that may be
taken, become affected with paralysis and
certain peculiar kind of collie. Painters
who. use pigments into the composition of
which lead largely enters are especially lia-
BILE to these diseases. Other artisans whose
labors require them to be exposed to the
vapors of mercury are affected thereby in
very characteristic manner through the
toxic influence of the metal. which is slowly
absorbed into the system. Workers in
quicksilver mines, fre-gilders and looking
glass makers rarely escape contamination
and consequent poisoning. There is a WOOL
sorters' disease, grinders disease, and
others too numerous to be referred to In
paper ike the present.
PROFESSIONAL DISEASES.
fections developed from the constant use Of
the same muscles in the same occupation
and which are, I think, becoming more fire.
quent with the advance of so-called civili-
zation. These are met with among writer's
telegraphers, pianists, engraVers and others
whose profession requires the frequent repe-
tition of certain delicate muscular actions.
The professional diseases, as they may be
called, are especially remarkable for the
. characteristic that the spasm, cramp or
paralysis, which is their principal symptom,
is only manifested when the affected muscles
are employed in the particular occupation
which has produced the disease. Thus the
subject of writers paralysis, though utterly
unable to move his pen In such way as to
write words, can perform any other act with
the fingers that may be within their power
He can paint, draw, engrave, play the
violin, without the least difficulty, provided,
of course, that he is acquainted with the
technique of these several performances.
The various muscles employed in these acts
must be exercised to a great extent in ex-
actly the same way as when engaged in
writing, and vet the one is impossible while
the others are accomplished, not only with
ease, but even with pleasure. have known
telegraphers who were utterly incapable of
manipulating the key of their telegraphing
instrument, but who could play the piano in
a skillful manner.
It would seem that in such cases the mind
must be affected to some degree. The cells
of the nervous centers which supply muscu-
lar force appear to be exhausted only so far
as some one particular series of volitions is
concerned, while for all other volitions act
ing upon the same muscles their vitality is
unimpaired. The main element of cure in
such cases is absolute rest from the occupa-
tion which has produced the disease, and
this not'only for a few weeks or months, but
generally for several years.
THE SPREAD OF PAREsIs.
There is disease which is certainly be-
coming more common every day, and from
which recovery is so rare that many physi-
clans most ca pable::of judging doubt if 1T ever
takes place, and that is general paralysis, or
general paresis, as it is sometimes called
While probably not resulting from any par
ticular occupation, as such, it may be caused
by any employment which is above the
mental capacity of the individual, or which
involves great anxiety or in which there are
reverses or disappointments. 1t is especially
prevalent among those who are engaged in
financial speculations or in some business
requiring inventive powers or degree of
knowledge which the person does not pos
struggle for wealth and position in which
the whole civilized world seems to be now
engaged. Those who are satisfied with their
lot in life or who, if not contented, have no
hope of improving their condition, and
hence make no effort in that direction, are
never affected with this disease. I doubt if
a single case ever occurred among the slaves
of the South, while since their freedom it
has made its appearance among them and
their descendants.
There are both mental and physical symp-
toms in general paralysis, and while the ap-
preach of the disease is generally insidious,
its presence is indicated by certain pheNom-
ena which are unmistakable in their iNsig-
nifcance. Chief among these is what the
French call deiire de grandeur, the "delir-
ium of grandeur" The patient, for in
stance, imagines that he is the richest or
the most powerful, or the strongest or the
handsomest man in all the world.
FREAKS OF THE AFFLICTED.
One poor fellow who did not own so much
as mill pond informed me that all the
lakes In the universe belonged to him, and
that no one could navigate them without
paying him toll. Another, who, after a Sc
ries of harrassing financial misfortunes, had
lost all his possessions in Wall street, imag-
ined that all the diamonds in the world be-
longed to him; that kings and bankers and |
jewellers from all the countries in Europe
wereiD correspondence with him, offering him |
immense sums of money for some Of the |
diamonds which he had stored away in a |
cave in South America. He declared that
he had placed great many of his diamonds
on deposit with Tiffany and other venders
of precious stones, to be sold for his benefit. |
Another while scarcely able to drag one |
foot after another. Dragged of his great run
ming capacity. Nothing in the whole world |
was as fleet he He could outrun the swiftest |
horses or the fastest railway engines. If he |
only could get beyond the attractive power
of the earth he could beat the planet in its |
course around the sun. Like other general
paralytics. he knew no impossibilities, and
the most egregious incongruities were to his
mind models of.logical reasoning. ! asked
him one day how many children he had.
"Children," I" he exclaimed, 81 have thous-
ands of acres of them"
CRAzED BY GOOD LUCK.
While it is true that general paralysis is
generally produced by disaDpointments or
reverses, yet such is not invariably the case.
One OF the worst instances of the disease I
ever saw was in the person of gentleman
who, after many financial losses, by
stroke OF sudden good fortune made several
hundred thousand dollars. Here the sud |
don rauu1siop anpaa rod tn he the avo;t;n,