The record-union., 1891-09-16
HEART DISEASE INCREASING.
Some of the Reasons-What s'Heart
Failure,, Means.

hC iAS"i =, iIAS OILtI ISSdllS, iS tlie SSdI Vi
large number of diseases, and the ex-
preston heart disease is as indefinite as
the term skin disease; it may have q
score of different meanings.'' The
speaker was DR.. James NJ. French, of the
Ohio Medical College, and the little doc
tor being an acknowledged authority on
diseases of the heart, a TInaes-Sto9 re-
porter who CHANGED to catch the remark
asked him to give reason, if possible,
for this wide prevalence of the insidious
disease that strikes down its chosen vic
TINS SO suddenly.
II am inclined to believe that heart
diseases are more common than they
formerly were," he continued. This is
due to the great nervous and physical
strain which attends our modern modes
of living. But it is q great wonder that
the heart is not moro frequently the seat
of disease than it is, when we consider its
delicate mechanism, its ceaseless labor,
and, 1 might add, the abuses to which it
is subjected. The heart is one OF the
most eXquisitely constructed machines
that can be conceived of. With its four
! chambers, its four sets OF valves, and sup
plying Its own motive power, it tolls con-
stantly, faithfully, for its three-score
years and ten, without rest. without re-
pair, responding to every demand, how
ever unreasonable; until, finally ex-
hausted by labor or degenerated by dis
SHloCs II 10 ho lOllS3GI CdiDdDl0 OI CARRYING
on its function. 1t falters, then resumes
its work; falters again, as if to warn it's
host that he must be less exacting; again
1t resumes, and again falterS, until.
sooner or later, the last point of erdu-
rance is reached, and it ceases to beat.
Acute lnflammatory rheumatism is
the most frequent cause of organic
heart disease, particularly of the valves.
1t causes the formation of small vegeta-
tions, little wart-like projections from the
surfaces of the valves. And, unfor-
tunately, these little projections are To-
Gated just where they will do the most
harm, right at the line Of contact be-
tween the leaflets of the valves. They
prevent the accurate closure Of the orifice.
The valves may grow together and cause
n permanent partial closure OF the open
ing which they guard"
docs the use Of liquor cause heart
disease ?''
The excessive use of liquor does very
remarkably affect, the heart. 1t causes
changes in its muscular structure. 1t
lmpalrs It's powers or produces changes
are less easily recognized, but none the
less fatal. The effect of a very small
quantity ofalcohol on one not accustomed
to it is easily recognizable in the flushed
face, due to the increased rapidity of the
heart. But tolerance is soon gained, and
the more serious changes are slow of de-
velopment. It must be admitted, how
ever, that the circulatory system is the
last TO fail as a result of alcoholic poison.
Most of the evil effects of whisky drink
ing are found in other organs. particu-
larly the liver and kidneys, and only
secondary in the heart.
"A beer-drinker acquires, along with
his portly abdomen, a fatty heart Minute
lines of fat-cells push themselves in be-
tween the II hprS of tho baarf anI xT-ao1-o,,
1t in proportion to their abundance. The
heart becomes large. They are big
hearted in the more serious sense of the
word. The heart is sometimes completely
surrounded with dense layer of fat SO
as to be entirely hidden from view when
the chest is opened after death. In ex-
treme cases the hberS of the heart muscles
actually turn to fat. This is the beginning
OF the end; for, unless the cause of the
fatty change is removed, the individuals S
days are numbered. He begins to get
short of breath, his ankles have a pro
pensity to swell, he can't go up stairs, be-
comes an invalid unable to leave home
and ultimately dies OF dropsy.
Then there is long list OF functional
disturbances of the heart, conditions in
which there is absolutely no disease of
the organ in any part, but where the
heart Is manifestly acting improperly
jumping, fiuttering, skipping beats, scar
ing it's unfortunate owner out of his wits
and into his physicians care, until it is
discovered that he is eating too many late
suppers, smoking too many cigars, drink
ing too much wine, or otherwise impru-
dent. Or he may be innocently working
too hard, losing sleep. etc. twas merely
functional disturbance which led An
gelo to exclaim on the approach of Isa-
bella:
O. heavens!
Why does my blood thus muster to my heart,
Making il both unable for itself,
And dispossessing all my other part
OF necessary fitness?
Working women, and perhaps more
frequently young school girls, suffer from
this trouble, either as a result of direct
fatigue or as result of impoverishment
of the blood acting directly on the heart,
robblng 1t OF its proper nouriShment.
dangerous functional disturbance of
the heart is sometimes produced by indi-
viduals who attempt to rapidly develop
their muscles. A valve of the heart has
even been ruptured in this way, but
usually the result is weakness and ir-
regularity of its action. Book keepers
and other office people are especially liza
bic to over-exercise after leaving their
work. They go to the gymnasium and
work like blacksmiths or baseball play
ers, swing heavy clubs, etc. The sudden
| demand put upon the heart is enough to
cause its rupture or paralysis. These are
the people who suddenly die of heart
! failure
Heart failure is not disease; it is but
the closing chapter of great many dis
eases or disorders. A man who dies in
| the dentists chair or under the admins
| tration of chloroform dies of heart failure.
| The same is true in the case of death from
| fright, sudden strong emotion or extreme
| loss of blood. A faint is a partial heart
] foil II ART fni i1Iarn fc al l.,
ability of the organ, from some cause. to
| continue its work. 1t is too, the term
| ination of most cases of organic heart
disease. Unfortunately the term, object
| ionable at best, has come to be in many
cases shield of ignorance-a satisfac-
tory term to apply to a mysterious death.
| Used alone the term is virtually an adj
mission of ignorance on the part of the
one using it to explain the cause Of q
| death.
Did you ever hear of "a tired heart ?'
| No one ever thinks that the heart NAV
become fatigued. But it is true, and fre-
quently fact. The heart is just as liable
to suffer from fatigue as is any other
muscle in the body. l have never seen
it mentioned in the books, but the con-
dition may be recognized almost as posi-
| lively as any other abnormal state of the
organ. A positive diagnosis cannot be
made at once, in most cases, because OF
Inc reSemplance OF the physical cOndi-
tions to those present in the dilation ofthe
heart. But under rest and proper treatment
the heart returns to its normal condition
| in a comparatively short time, which is
almost an impossibility in the case of a
dilated heart. Not few cases of so-called
nervous prostration' are nothing more
than fatigue of the heart.
Life would be prolonged by a little
more attention to the heart; by paying a
little more attention to the most faithful
servant we ever have. A good deal ot
good might be done, also, if parents
would teach their children the danger OF