The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1891-11-20
THE PAWTUXET VALLEY.
II 1t Isn't HeaIthfuI, What the Rea-
sons May be For its Ills.
DISEASES GO OUT OF DATE.
An Interesting Incident Noted In Con-
nection With the w. q. T. U. Conven-
tion at Boston. in Which an Old Lady
From the West Was Principal.

A physician who has practised in this
portion of Rhode Island for three years
made some statements recently which are
worth thinking over studiously. He AYERS
that consumption, meaning pulmonary
consumption, was in years past the COM
mon and expected disease in the Pawtuxet
valleys and western Rhode Island. Years
in and out the numbers who died from the
disease was largely in majority over those
passing away by other maladies.
IL will be remembered that even in
fiction which one may peruse now In
the novels of a decade ago, the heroines
seldom died except of this most romantic
indisposition. The physician says this is
now all changed, and in his practice,
among Americans, except when the de-
crease is distinctly hereditary, there are
few consumptives seen. But among the
foreign classes, who have this country
their home, cases of lung disease, which
usually are incurable, are often met with.
When asked IL it was developed from
climatic influences, he replied he judged
not. 1t seemed to him just a matter
of being properly or improperly clothed.
The American men and women
of this age are probably the most sensibly
dressed people ever inhabiting this portion
of the earth. Dressed in shoes OF thick
SOltS anu easy SHAPES, tlOintQ hCAb tiAO
flesh with either woolen or silk textures
and dressed with easily made and hight
weight garments, they keep their health
in wonderful degree. The foreigner COM
ing here does not heed his raiment he
lives often on food little apt TO give
strength or warmth TO the system. Inc
cold seasons come on, with their treacher-
Gus New England variations, and the re-
suit to the aliens is loss of health, and,
finally consumption and death.
One family, foreign born, was lnstanced,
where although free from any hereditary
taint, they, one after another, succumned
TO consumption until every member died
except one, who was seldom exposed to
out door atmosphere.
When asked what was the prevailing
disease among natives here, the physician
answered dyspepsia, malarial diseases ana
catarrh. Malaria was an unknown thlng
here twenty years ago. The first family
rendered as having it, was one that came
from the New Jersey coast and settled at
Hope. Now the little box of quinine pills
is as sure to be in the average household,
as the family Bible, and maybe It's con-
tents oftener utilized.
Diseases 20 out of date" said this
observing Esculapius, 'yov would laugh If
| told you you had jaundece or liver com,
plant, or quinZy. IL / said you had
tonsilitis you would wonder what IL was,
and typhus fever, an ailment common IN
Old times, would DE deemed very paSse
But if / say You have malaria or dip
thereto sore throat, or any of these sup
posedly common complaints, you thlnk
yourself i'll, but in a speedy way to. get
better under treatment. All summed up,
a human being ought to be glad they live
now, rather than n century ago"
The ladies OF the w. G. Il. Il. who were
in attendance at the national convention
at Boston returned on Thursday. Many
who attended were unable to obtain seats
pointed in not hearing the more distin-
Cured seems worth repeating. A Phenix
gentleman who stood in the lobby
of the Temple on Saturday in
the closely packed crowd saw an
old, and delicate looking lady striving to
gain entrance to the ball. The policeman
on duty refused her admittance as she
had no card for "a seat, that being the
orders. But the old lady persisted II
must go in" she said, II came hun
dreds OF miles, and | must go III" This
she would repeat in pleading tones, over
and over. why came clear from the
far West. | want to hear Lady Henry
Somerset and | must 90 in"
A person standing near, evidently OF
some Importance pushed forward and
said quietly, you can go in II you Will
wait patiently n few moments, will see
that YOU go in and have a seat" AS there
were some hundreds there unable TO get
seats, this was doubted. But soon this
white haired, plainly dressed old lady,
was taken in, and given n seat where she
could see and hear all, and her long jour
ney had not been in vain.