The morning news., 1891-09-23
AFFECTI0NSOF THE MIND
INTERESTING INVESTIGATIONS OF
a YOUNG PHYSICIAN.


From the Philadelphia Press.
NEW YORK, Sept. ia young man
with the countenauce of an enthusiast.
pale, apparently from overmuch study, is
in the city on his way to Europe, where he
expects to spend several years in study and
research. He is DIE. H. Lester, gradu-
ate of the University Medical College, who
has been practicing his profession for some
seven or eight years in one Of the rural
counties of this STATE. His home is in the
town of Skanesteles, place, which it is
strange, should permit its natural beauties
to be moved by such an uucouth name
DR.. Lester's practice took him for miles
around the farming districts adjoining that
town, and was one of the sort which those
who practice medcine in the country are
accustomed to find. He has now given up
his practice; he Is going to Vienna to study
the pathology and history of nervous
diseases, and then to spend a year or more
with DR.. Charcot, the Parisian specialists,
who has recently become renowned on ac-
count of his scientific Investigations into
what is called hypnotism, and his theories
and experiments In the use of that mental
phenomenon In legitimate medical prac>
Cce.
If young DIR. Lester is right in some of
his theories he has made something of a
discovery, and if his Investigations and
study abroad convince him that his opin~
ions are correct, he is likely to be discussed
by those who are exploring the still hidden
fields in the science of medicine, very likely
as much as have been some other men
whose exploits have made them famous.
DIR. Lester is no charlatan or quack His
standing in the profession is already high,
and his purpose is not 30 much to gain ins
formation which will avail him as special
ist as it is to establish certain important
and, as he thinks, newly revealed truths.
II his conclusions are correct it will demon
strate that there is grain of truth In the
theories of those who practice the faith
cure" and what is called "Christian science
With the supernatural element which these
enthusiasts introduce DR.. Lester has no
patience, and he believes that the grain of
truth is explained by perfectly natural laws,
harmonizing with the higher conception of
msdical practice.
DISEASE OF THE COUNTRY.
The famous specialists, like DR.. s. Weir
Mitchell of Philadelphia the late DR.. GEORGE
M. Beard, of this city, Dr. Lockwood, and
IN certain directions DR.. Hammond, have
gained legitimate and splendid fame by rea-
son OF their discoveries of certain forms of
Of high tension modern life in cities.
DIR. Mitchell, by his discoveries as to the
cause OF hysteria, and by some of his won-
dertul cures, stands in the front rank of
medical practitioners Of genius. DR.. Beard,
IN his writings on neurasthenia and other
forms OF nervous diseases which modern
civilization in cities has developed, has
earned fame which has steadily increased
since his untimely death. And the almost
mArValOUs aYnlpito nf nr 7
Dr. Hammond have passed beyond the dis
cusslon of the profession and are the cause
Of tributes from laymen.
These men, however have to a great ex-
tent diagnosed and treated nervous prostra-
ton, which is caused by high pressure hv-
ing, hysteria and other various forms of
nervous atf1iction which are the result of
mighty ambition, of the desire for great
social esteem, and in short, the overtaxing
of the nervous system, of which everybody
who lives in the large cities has seen many
examples. 1t is the diseases, mental and
nervous, which are the outcome of rapid
city life, Of which these men have made
aad sre still making themselves the masters.
Dr. Lester's discovery, If it is discovery,
Is something at the other end of the line, SO
to speak The great specialists above
named deal with diseases caused by high
pressure. DR.. Lester may have discovered
the cause and located it of diseases produced
by low pressure; diseases not found In our
cities, but which he thinks are peculiar to
and characteristic of country life.
In his practice in the rural districts Of
Central New York he met, as every other
rural practitioner does, great many cases
OF exsi elne melancholia; persons who seem
t. be surly and sullen, and the majority Of
these cases were confined to women. There
was no suggestion of hysteria about them,
These females seemed to move about in a
spirit of dull and sad resignation, which
suggested almost q half somnambulistic
state. They simply existed; they made
faithful wives ami mothers, doing their
household duties with the patience and res
lgnatIon Of the beasts Of the field Moth
Ing could excite, nothing amuse, nothing
interest them.
Now, this type of persons Is readily
recognized by every one who has passed any
Time IN farming communities, where the
farms are isolated, where the women of the
household perform with dreary faithfulnesa
their household drudgery, day in and day
our, year in and year out, until their faces
become almost pathetic in their sad resgua-
tion, while those who judge them harshly
regard them as of sullen, moroSe, and un-
companionable disposition.
DIR. LESTER DOES SOME THINKING.
After several years. practice DR.. Lester
W IL
manner of the scientists. He discovered
that nearly every one of these cases was
that of a woman who lived almost a her.
mits life. They were persons who never
felt the exhiliaraton Of social activity
They spent their days from one Sunday To
another in the spot they called home Some
OF them, be found, had been in early youth
OF social disposition, but he also found that
many OF his patients were young girls who
lived In this dreary manner
A careful study of conditions. environ
ment and symptoms led DR.. Lester, a year
or two ago, TO the conclusion that these nm,
fortunate persons were not the victims OF
VICIOUS or sulen or miserable creatures but
were the victims of a disease, as clearly de-
naed, indicating as positive symptoms and
suggesting as revolutionary treatment as
that new class of diseases, the discovery and
treatment OF which have made DIR. Mitchell
and the others mentioned above to rank
VIII the princes Of their noble profession.
IN tie cities these nervous and mental all
Ments are due to great strain; in the rural
ustrlcts 1t Is DIR. Lester's opinion that they
are cue to the absence of all intellectual
aad mental stimulant. The former class
ste nigh pressure, the latter low pressure
diseases. Oae might be called positive
Ssehlfestation and the other negative man.
AessaaoD. ---''A'
"a urban diseases there comes toward the
Va ' violent manifestations, paresis. paraly-
~ nysterla or kindred complaints. In the
Go, rer cases life suddenly collapses, the vic
@a s SIMPLY expire. In the old practice
a. A. unl ortunate persons were treated with
5nssi t1ey were regarded as victims of
drSssis dssSl MYERS or impaired digestions, and