The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-07-02

meSic 0eOf1iRtA 70 storms. thaI ne mas
prepared special treatises for medical use
parasive effect Of the American climate on
the different races Of mankind, 1t il too
early 70 form any very confident luds-
ment But this much Is certain. White
races are affected more than colored.
Fuii-blood negroes are found TO be entirely
exempt from some Of the worst and most
prevalent forms OF nervous disease, and
even slight trace Of color seems to be .
safeguard. The Angio-Saxon Amsri-
cans are the greatest sufferers from the
national disease, aud especially those in
the higher walks Of lite. Females are
more under the influences OF this terrible
scourge than males, and town dweiiers
than country folk. The prevalence OF
the more serious nervous diseases ID
shown to be in almost exact proportion
TO the congestion Of popuiation. There
Is no surer test of the nervous condition
Of any people than this-can the women,
when they become mothers, nurse their
children themselves? In America it 10
found that whereas in the rural districts,
from seven-tenths to nine-tenths of the
women can do 30. in the cities the pro-
portion is not more than one-half: and
DR.. Mitchell declares that he would not be
believed II he were to say how many even
OF these are unit TO be wives or mothers
at all!
Americans arc not responsible for the
climate. That il one Vi the evils they
have to bear in compensation OF the thou
sand blessings aud advantages they enjoy
in the possession Of this mighty tract Of
marvelousiy productive land. But they
are responsible. almost criminaily respon-
sible. for aggravations of the effects of the
climate by their habits Of life, which null
tipiy the number OF victims tenfoid, and
must in the long RIM. degrade and attenu-
ate the race. The Two most formidable
enemies of the national health are the dol
lar devil and the school fiend. The former
attacks particularly males, the latter fe-
males; but both sexes are more or less ex-
posed to the malign influence of both evils.
There IS popular goody-goody notion
that late hours. fashionable styles
Of dress, prolonged dancing and all
the other foilies Of gay society are
the main cause of nervous wreck among
women. But the truth is that the leisure,
pleasure-seeking class are comparatively
free from nervous disease. They toll not,
neither do they spin. They dress warmly
and comfortably, they eat and drink plen.
tifully and of the best. They have con-
slant variety 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 occupation gone. No, for one woman
who breaks down through fashionable
folly, . score are destroyed by over
strain in the serious affairs of
life. The flower Of Ameri-
can womanhood is wilted by over culture
before it comes fully into bloom. The
long hours, the multiplicity Of studies. the
number of teachers-each striving to get
the utmost out Of the pupils-the craving
rivalry to be well graded, tho all-devour-
ing ambition to command q means Of
living, the hurried or neglected meals, the
want Of exercise and the fatal irregularity
that 1t entails, the gnawing worry that
murders pit ID these, and these alone.
can women to q lite OF misery and useless
ness before they have ceased to be chill
dren. DR.. Mitchell deliberately main
tains that, for all the best purposes Of
female society, ii would be better that
American girls were not educated at all
until they are II, than that they were
overwrought as they are at present. They
study seven or eight hours day, when
two or three would be sufficient to keep
their intelligence in train!ng-and all for
what? To spend their after years on q
sofa or in . SICK room, and to be burden,
instead of help to those who are dearest
to them. 1t is . tremendous saying, from
one speaking with authority, that as much
domestic unhappiness is caused in Amer
women as by dram drinking among men.
Yet such is DR.. Weir Mitchell's verdict.
He holds that every girl ought to be ex-
amined as to her nervous temperament
when about to 60 to school, and at fire.
Quent intervals aiterward; that leisure,
exercise and wholesome meals ought to be
insisted upon, and that studies ought to
be compuisoriiy diminished, or discontin-
ued altogether, the moment the we'll
known signs Of overstrain appear. If girls
are maintained in normal nervous condi-
ton until they are II, they may study al
most as hard as they please afterward
without imperiling their woman's life.
But let there be no mistake about it, over
work and unnatural worry from or 8
till early death.
AS for the dollar devil, its power Is
manifested in that widespread complaint
which physicians call cerebral exhaustion.
The American male stands the racket OF
the school much better than the female.
He takes more exercise and he has not the
troubles of puberty to contend against.
But he meets his fate very shortly alter
wards. He goes to business far too young,
and he straightway consumes his vital
energy till nothing IS left but dust and
ashes. 1t is often pointed out with pride
that America is the country OF young
men, and SO il is. We quite usually see
mere Iaoor3 ana responsibilities polne py
mere boys. which nowhere else would be
! undertaken by many under middle
age. That is very striking ana inter
esting TO the casual observer. But
what it means to such observers as DR..
Weir Mitchell is that America is the coun-
try of young invalids. young wrecks, young
drug victims. young inebriates, young
maniacs. Young suicides! The premature
ness of business responsibility, the iran.
TIC haste 10 be rich and powerful produces
in plain sight what is nothing short OF .
frich,fuiiy general social evil. The most
appalling cases of nervous disease tina; the
doctor meets with are those OF young men
in the highest posts. who entered business
life too early and suddenly encountered
periods OF excessive anxiety and grave re-
sponsibiity. l. would have been q mercy
10 them If they had been street sweepers or
coal porters instead of railroad presidents
or bank managers.
WAEFFrys