Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1890-03-28
MODERN MALADIES.

corresponding pain or bitterness, 80 it
may be said that every civilized aid to
existence devised for human kind de-
Vclops an agency for introducing new
ills to torment alike suffering flesh and
the Esculapian brain. The invention
of steam locomotion, telegraph and tele-
phone instruments, electric lighting and
various time and labor-saving machines,
while adding so much to public comfort
and convenience, have also brought into
existence curious diseases, which, &C
cording to the Times and Register, form
interesting contributions to medical
science, although less interesting and
moro expensive to the suffering victim.
Railroad spine, or railroad shock, an
affection unknown before travel by rail
became 80 common, has been a
familiar malady for some time;
but one more recent is rail
road kidney, a disease not unlike
Bright's disease, but of nervous origin,
due to conclusions received on rail-
roads. There is a disturbance of the
general system, especially of the func-
tions Of the kidneys, the symptoms dis
appearing when the sufferer leaves his
regular work. Tho overuse of the
telephone produces curious disease, in
some respects form of asemasia, a
volitional overstraining Of certain
powers by which we perceive spoken
words when we can not see the speaker
or perceive his gestures or the move
mont Of his lips, thus creating confusion
of ideas, general nervousness and lack
of self-control. Certain of the senses
are developed at the expense Of others,
the natural equilibrium being unbal-
anced. Telephone tinnitus, aural over
pressure, is caused by the constant
strain of the auditory apparatus in per-
sons who use the telephone continually,
. the ear becoming intolerant of the
tinkle of the bell. The symptoms
are buzzing noises in the ear, dizziness,
neuralgic pains, and, in some instances,
a sub-infiammatory condition Of the
membrane tympani. The telegraphers'
cramp and the professional akinesia are
of the same order of affections as tho
writer's cramp or the violinists' cramp.
Electrical sunstroke is an affection
that attacks those who are exposed
to the intense. rays of the electric
arc used in fusing or welding
metals, projection. against this being
afforded by wearing a mask of
gray taffeta and gray eyeglasses. OPP
thalmia photoe1ectrica is an infiamma-
ton OF the, eye in persons employed
about electric lights, and is caused by
looking at these brilliant lights at
short distance away. A succession Of
bright spots rapidly follow one another
over the visual field, and at night there
is inability to look at light without
pain and profuse flow Of tears; the
eyellus are swollen ana movements OF
the eye painful. This lasts a few hours,
and Is succeeded by feeling of pain
full WEAKNESS. The ordinary telescope
vision is n disease by which the visual
field is limited concentrically, and the
sufferer can finally see nothing except
that which Is directly in front of his
eye; this condition being due to lack of
nutrition of the retina or to some dis
ease Of the periphery. An affection of
vision similar to the telescope eye may
also be produced by the action Of qui-
nine. The telescope eye peculiar to
lighthouse keepers Is thickening and
enlarging Of the bony walls of the
orbit, caused by the persistent and re-
peated pressure at the end Of the tel
escope upon the surroundings of
the eye, inducing chronic form
OF periostitis or ostitis: the eve
gradually protruding, but not becoming
myopic or astigmatic. The divers
bends Is q new form of caissoh disease,
which attacks the victim on his return
to the open air with nervous prostra-
ton. The cavities connected with the
nasal passages are INSTRUCTED in some
cases completely while the men are at
work, and in some cases extreme doaf-
ness has been induced. The sufferers
often reel and staggcr like drunkards,
and sometimes arc affected with partial
paralysis. Electricity has been used
with success for tho treatment Of this
disease. Civilized indulgences and van
tiles have also contributed their share
OF the diseases that afflict the modern