The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1889-03-09
THE WAY OF LIFE.
various Causes Contributing to Premature
DissOluti0ns.


years and ten as the age to which
many men may reasonably look for
ward. 1t seems as if, at least, seven
ty equable, contented and happy
years-full of such comfort and graf
ification as the members of each
class in the community have several
ly a right to expect-should and
might be within the reach of every
man and woman. Insome countries
however, we find this to be much
more nearly the case than with us
says the Boston Herald. Americans,
as a rule, live too fast to live long.
Every person is originally endowed
with about so large stock of vitali-
ty out of which to fashion his life. 1t
amounts to more nor less than the
simplest of problems in arithmetic to
show that if he draws upon this stock
twice as heavily as he should, the dura-
ton his existence will only be one-half
of what it was originally intended to
be. Indeed, the matter stan DIS much
worse than this: his life is likely to be
atany moment suddenlycut off short
long before reaching even the half. A
steam-engine may use up it's fuel in
two weeks or one, according to therat
at which it is driven; if it is suffici-
emily overworked the result may be a
general SMASH" or such an injury
as will necessitate long and tedi-
Gus stopping for repairs" if, indeed
it ever becomes "as good as new. "
We hardly seem ready to recognize
the bounds established by nature,
but when we have reached them, in
our greed and ambition, we summon
our will, and, as the expression runs,
olive upon our nerve" congratula-
ting ourselves on our praiseworthy
display of american goaheadative-
ness" Unfortunately nature has
not yet become sufficiently progress
i've in her ideas to manufacture con-
situations expressly for the American
market, and, in the midst of our
triumphant tour de force, click,
something snaps, and we vanish from
the stage, or break down for years,
perhaps for life.
What are the causes of sudden
death-as by a stroke of lightning?
They are not many when only the
so-called natural accidents are con
sidered. Death ON the instant may
result from apoplexy, or bursting of
an aneurism within the chest or alb
domen; it may be caused by the
bursting of an abscess within
the chest. Great mental shock-as
from extreme anger or grief or even
ioy-sometimes kills instantly Through
total paralysis of the chief nerve CEN
tiers. Cases of sudden death from
hemorrhages of the lungs are on rec
ord, but they are few in number.
Diseases of the heart render the sub
ject liable to instant death, and they
are the most frequent causes.
Something may be said descriptive
of these accidents and diseases which
will interest the general reader. A
correct understanding of them might
possibly render us less liable
to them. Apoplexy, or, as it is some
times called brain-stroke is usually
due to the rupture of blood-vessel
within the brain. Instant death i,
not the common result of this injury,
and yet, as already stated, it some
times occurs. More often the victim
of q severe attack passes into a con-
dition of stupor, called coma, in
which he lies for hours, or even days,
and then dies or slowly RECEIVERS.
There are many influences which are
capable OF giving rise to this accident,
which in a general way we may attri-
butte to one of two causes: namely,
either the walls of the blood-vessel in
question are weakened by degenera-
tive changes, and so rupture easily,
or they are while healthy subjected
to an unusual and too great pres
sure from a rush of blood into them.
and give way in consequence. The
walls OF the blood vessels degenerate
with age; as one grows old the liabil-
ity of their rupture under sudden in
crease of blood-pressure becomes
greater. Age is not the only cause
of these weakening changes-we may
expect them in all cases where the
system is permanently enfeebled. In
an attack of apoplexy occurring
in a person who has passed
the age of sixty, we should natur-
ally assume that the bursting of the
blood-vessel was due to degeneration
of it's walls. But in one younger, who
had enjoyed fairly good health. we
should expect to find that the direct
cause of the rupture was too great a
blood pressure. We may retard de-
generation, although we can not
block the wheels of time. Some men
at ninety are far less liable to apo
pIexy than others at fifty. In agreat
degree the liability is question OF
general health. Hence the fear of
apoplexy should lead US to endeavor
to keep strong and well. AS we grow
cid we should avoid these influences
which are likely toinduce sudden and
great rush of blood to the head, such
as intense mental excitement-as in
public speaking or in fit of anger
violent muscular effort, gluttony and
drunkenness, etc. While one dimes
at popular cafes he has but to look
about him and he is quite sure to see
habits INDUCED provocative of apo
plexy. A familiar sight is the man
about sixty years old whose highest
pleasure is in tickling his palate. Heis
over weight by fully fifty pounds; his
face is red and shining; he is full to
bursting, and looks as though every
important button on his clothing was
Threatened. One a warm day gives
~,,ol :, xs.ov &c tGuidn N hopthO 90 he