Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-07-24
AMERICAS MAIADY.
DR.. MITCHELL SAYS SUCH IS Dis
EASE OF THE NERVES.

OF tho Causes - Climate an Important
Faotor-'rhe Four Hundred All Right
Dr. S, Weir Mitchell Of PHILADELPHIA
Recognized authority on nervous diseases,
In recent interview had some very inter
esting things TO say with regard 70 what he
considers ''the characteristic mnlAdy Of the
American nation" Possibly as n specialist
he may be unconsciously disposed to over
state the case, but his observation and ex.
periencenrc, heclaims, REINFORCED by stalls.
ties that show that nervous disorders arc
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 ccnters DIR, Mitchell
is reported as saying. the tables OF NOR,
tally show that the proportion Of nerve
death has multiplied more than 30 times IN
the last 20 years and that now the nerve
deaths number more than cne-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.
leans are fast becoming a short lived peo-
pie, aud II they were shut in on themselves
for only a few years and without any In.
tiux of vitality by immigration the publ.
cation OF the census would send a pang Of
horror and alarm throughout the landn
Dr. Mitchell is OF the opinion that the
first and most potent cause Of the prva.
lence OF nervous diceascs is to be found In
the climate, but why the climate tends TO
produce them he does not undertake toe
plain, unless II be the frequent aud sudden
changes of temperature peculiar to some
OF the more thickly settled sections What
Ia tsas H.. l..
largely from the phlepmatie races undergo
change of temperament here and become
excitable, emotional and irritable in a de.
gree that Is unknown In any other part Of
the world Another effect OF the Amer,
lean climate, he thinks, 10 ''thnt IL makes
the strain OF either mental or physical
labor much more severe than ID is else,
where" people being able TO wurl, 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 the
United States is unquestionnbly very try.
ing, and its effect upon the general phys,
cal constitution may be manifested very
frequently In impairment OF the nervous
system. But it ia 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 ho notes
namely, the mad rish and perpetual strain
" our business life which ruins the health
Of our men, and the hothouse system Of
education, which wrecks the constitutions
Of our girls.
That IL is unhealthy physical aud mental
conditions rather than the climate which
produce these results Is suggested by tho
fact cited by Dr. Mitchell that the preya.
lcnce Of the more serious nervous diseases Is
in almost cxact proportion 20 the conges.
tion Of population. People who live calm,
quiet, wholesome lives in the country ara
far less liable to them than the Inhabitants
| Of cities, where the strain on mind and
body il greater and where the physical en-.
yironment Offers little opportunity for
healing 10y natural means the evils OF arti-
fetal and unhealthy modes OF existence.
Over the climate, whether II be good or
bnd, we have, rs he says, no control, but
| for the dollar dcyip' and the educational
| devil we are responsible, and with regard
| to them he utters sofno strong words OF pro-
| fesslonal warning We pride ourselves on
the early age at which American men reach
positions of responsibility, but they do 10
at the cost OF the delicate nervous machin.
cry that il essential to happiness as well as
health. The male American, nftnr being
tortured by the eNhctions Of a despotlc
school system, enten business "far too
young, and he straigAtway consumes his
vital energy till nothingis left but dust aud
ashes" The end OF 1t all Is IA country Of
young invalids young wrecks, young drug
victims, young incbrlates, young mnnncs
young suicides" The educational devil
does its work quite Us effectively IN regard
TO the girls.
'rhe flower Of American womanhoodn
says Dr. Mitchell, sis wilted by oycrcul.
ture before It Comes fully into bloom
The long hours, the multiplicity OF studies
the ambition Of parents and 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 useleasness before they
have ceased TO be children" 1t would be
better, he maintains, that American girls
should not be educated at nil until they
are II, after which they may study with
less risk, than that they should be over
wrought as they arc ut present..
The leisurely, pleasure seeking classes
he points out. hre comparatively FREQ from
nervous disease They toll not, neither
do they spin. Thcy dress warm and com.
fortably They eat and drink plentifully
and Of the best They have constant var
ETY. and relaxation, and they do not bother
themselves about anything in particular
II the mass Of American women led tho
life Of the -Four Hundred, specialists In
nervous diseases would find their occupa-
ton gone For one woman who breaks
down through fashionable folly score arc
destroyed by overst.giin in the serious ai-
fairs Of life"
In short, the national malady Is due 10
the character Of our national life. We arc
In too much Of a hurry about everything
We run our brains and ourneryous systems
on the plan Of q lightning express and ex-
pect them 10 work from morning till night
on the principle Of rapid transit. In fact
We are too rapid by half, and DR.. Mitchell
warns us TINT IL we persist IN this rnpidity
we shall ''trnsit' nationally as quickly as
we have developed. baltimore Sun.
Looking For a barber Shop.