The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-07-26
an AMERICAN MAlAOy..
Dr. Mitchell, IN Authority, Says
Such Is Disease Of tho
Nerves
Startling Increase During Forty
Years Shown by Tables Of
Mortality.
Beme Of che CAusss-Climats A. Import
aat FAoeor-The -Four Rsnared Are
All Right.

- L7-a" ..
Dr.. 8. Weir Mitchell Of Philadelphia, a
recognized authority on nervous diseases,
In a recent interview had some very inter-
esttng things to say with regard to what he
considers ''the characteristic malady of the
American nation" Possibly rs a specialist
he may be unconsciously disposed to over
state the case, but his observation and ex-
perienceare, he claims, REINFORCED by statis-
tics that show that nervous disorders are
increasing in an alarming ratio every year.
The number OF deaths from this cause is
already appalling and is steadily growing.
In some OF the busy ~centers, DR.. Mitchell
Is reported as saying, the ''tables Of NOR
tality show that the proportion Of nerve
death has multiplied more than 20 times in
the last 40 years and that now the nerve
deaths number more than one-fourth OF all
the deaths recorded. What is most shock
ing In these returns is that this fearful loss
Of life occurs mainly among young people
of both sexes. This means that the Amer
cans ore fast becoming u short lived peo-
pie, and IL they were shut in on themselves
for only a few years and without any in
flux OF vitality by immigration the publi-
cation of the census would send q pang Of
horror and alarm throughout the land"
DR.. Mitchell Is of the opinion that the
first and most potent cause of the prevar
lence of nervous diceases is to be found in
the climate, but why the climate tends to
produce them he does not undertake to ex-
plain, unless it be the frequent and sudden
changes OF temperature peculiar to some
Of the more thickly settled sections. What
I c m, In = /. ,~ s. SSAl,~k rn1-On -1-l--
largely from the phlegmatic races undergo
. change of temperament here and become
cxcitable, emotional and irritable in q de-
gree that is unknown in any other part Of
the world" Another effect of the Amer
lean climate, he thinks, is that 1t makes
to strain Of either mental or physical
labor much more severe than it is else
WHERE" people being able to work much
longer and harder with head and hands
without injurious consequences in England
and ON the continent than in this country.
The climate in many sections of tho
United States is unquestionably very try
ing, and it's effect upon the general phys
ical constitution may be manifested very
frequently in impairment Of the nervous
system. But it is extremely doubtful II it
can be regarded as 1.-THE most potent cause"
of the national malady. The other causes
to which DR.. Mitchell refers are probably
in the largest measure responsible for the
unfortunate conditions which no notes
namely, the mad rush and perpetual strain
of our business life, which ruins the health
of our men, and the dollhouse system Of
education, which wrecks the constitutions
lof our girls.
Z That it is unhealthy physical and mental
conditions rather than the climate which
produce these results is suggested by the
fact cited by DR.. Mitchell that the preva-
lence of the more serious nervous diseases is
in almost exact proportion to the conges-
ton of population. People who live calm,
quiet, wholesome lives in the country are
far less liable to them than the inha bitants
of cities, where the strain on mind and
body is greater aud where the physical en-
vironment offers little opportunity for
healing by natural means the evils of arti-
fetal and unhealthy modes of existence.
Over the climate, whether it be good or
bad, we have. as he says, no control, but
for the dollar devil' and the educational
devil we are responsible, and with regard
to them he utters some strong words Of pro-
fessional warning. We pride ourselves on
the early age at which American men reach
positions of responsibility, but they do so
at the cost of the delicate nervous machin-
cry that is essential to happiness as we'll as
health. The male American, after being
tortured by the exactions Of a despotio
school system, enters business ''far too
young, and he straightway consumes his
vital energy till nothing is left but dust and
ashes" The end of it all is "a country of
young invalids, young wrecks, young drug
victims, young inebriates, young maniacs,
-z..-- -.:sl.nS - Tla o5,----I LII
does its work quite as effectively in regard
to the girls.
1.-THE flower of American womanhood,"
says DR.. Mitchell, lis wilted by o%vcrcul-
ture before it comes fully into bloom"
The long hours, the multiplicity of studies,
the ambition of parents aud teachers who
stimulate their pupils to exertions far be-
yond their strength and the attendant
evils of hurried meals, want of exercise,
broken sleep and excitement condemn
tens of thousands Of American women to
a life of misery and u~selessness before they
have ceased to be children" It would be
better, he maintains, that American girls
should not be educated at all until they
are II, after which they may study with
less risk, han that they should be over
wrought as they are Mt present.
The leisurely, pleasure seeking classes,
he points out, are comparatively free from
nervous disease. They toll not, neither
do they spin. They dress warm and com
fortably. They eat and drink plentifully
and of the best. They have constant vari.
ETY. and relaxation. and they do not bother
themselves about anything in particular.
II the mass OF American women led the
life of the Four Hundred, specialists in
nervous diseases would find their occupa-
ton gone. For one woman who breaks
down through fashionable folly a score are
destroyed by overstrain in the serious af-
fairs of life"
In short, the national malady is due to
the character Of our national life. We are
in too much of a hurry about everything.
We run our brains and our nervous systems
on the plan of II lightning express and ex.
pect them to work from morning till night
OH the principle Of rapid transit. In fact,
we are too rapid by half, and DR.. Mitchell
warns us that If we persist in this rapidity
we shall transit" nationally as quickly az
we have developed. Baltimore Sun.
Looking For a Barber Shop.
Signor Leoncavallo, the composer Of the
ov,a,,n skpouIinrci ~ nuca yso;taI E,,-l~ol