St. Landry democrat., 1893-10-14
THE BODY AND ITS HEALTH.

CAUSE OF HUMAN ELIMINATION. - IL
narrating his observations of several
cases of ru,uination in man-three of
which occurred in men and two in a
mother and her child of three and one
half ycars-M. Decker states that in three
instances the complaint was congenital,
nor is there any reason for believing that
Illumination is due to any paralysis of the
cardia, but that the latter opens at the
time of each reorganization; only in one
case was there any evidence of cardiac
weakness. Hypcracidity is only an acct
! dental occurrence; in four Of the five
cases the gastric juice was normal, and
there may or may not be dyspepsia; dill
I atation Of the stomach was only present
in one case, but this was the result and
not the cause of the complaint; he thinks
| that too rapid and excessive eating, with
deficient chewing, is the proximite
cause, having been present in four of the
cases, and, in addition, there must be Il
| neurotic predisposition. Again, in a
| comparison between cructation and ru-
minution, it is pointed out that in the
former there is only a slight contraction
] of the stomach, whereas, in the latter
| the stomach contracts cncrgcticaly as
we'll as the diaphragm and abdominal
! muscles.
DEATH FROM A BROKEN HEART. DO
people in trouble ever really die of "a
broken heart % The late Sir George
Pagat, in enc of his lectures, acknow-
lodges that in the vast ma iority of cases
thus popularity described there is nothing
like an actual rupture of the heart; yet
he admits that mental affections will not
infreQuently cause real disease of the
body, and he mentions an actual case of
broken heart cited by Dir. J. X. Mitchell
Of the Jefferson College, Philadelphia, in
lccturing to his pupils. In an early
period OF his life DR.. Mitchell accompa-
MED, as surgeon, packet that sailed
from Liverpool to oDe Of the American
ports. The captain frequently conversed
with him respecting a lady who had
promised to become his bride on his re-
turn from that voyage. Upon this sub
jcct he cvinced great warmth Of feeling,
and showed some costly jewels and orna-
ments which he intended to present as
bridal gifts. On reaching his destination
he was abruptly informed that the lady
had married some one else. Instantly the
captain was observed to clasp his hand
to his breast and fall heavily to the
ground. He was taken up and conveyed
to his cabin on board his vessel. DR..
Mitchell was Immediately summoned,
but before he reached him the captain was
dead. 4 post mortem examination re-
vcaled the cause. His heart was found
literally torn in twain. The tremendous
propulsion of blood adds the narrator)
consequent upon such violent nervous
shock, forced the powerful muscular
tissues asunder, and life was at an end.
THE BATH IN Irs RELATION TO
HEALTH AND Coop LoOhs.-The ma jority
of people, says medical authority,
battle with view to comfort and clean
illness without much thought of the re-
lations Of regular additions to the preser-
walton of health and good looks. In
olden times there existed the idea that
too frequent bathing of the face and
neck njured the skin. Now the general
belief is that the beauty of the skin cam
not be preserved unless its pores are
kept we'll open. Proof of this is readily
seen by observation among people who
battle infrcqucntly and insutficiently A
good complexion is almost unknown
among them, and although improper
food and impure air do their share in
muddyng and thickening the skin its
unhealthy appearance is largely due to
that clogging of the pores which pre-
vents their carrying off as they should
the waste matter of the system. The
of the bath is a mooted
question. To some persons there is
nothing more bracing aud invigorating ,
than cold plunge, while Others do not |
recover for hours from the chill such
bath gives. Certain physicians recon-
mend very hot bath, and assert that it
is as stimulating in its after effects as is |
the cold plunge and less likely to pro-
duce i'll effects Nearly all unite in de-
clarlng immersion in the tepid bath re-
laxing and thus detrimental to health.
The question is one that each bather
must settle for herself. What suits one
may be positively harmful to another.
Certain it is that the hot or warm bath
is more cleansing than cold water. The
sudden chill of the latter closes the
pores and prevents the escape of the
atfete matter it is the object of the bath
TO remove. The woman who takes
cold plunge for its after effects should
first sponge herself off in warm water
and achieve cleanliness before she in
1ulges herself in her "bracer"
Whoever feels chilly sensation after
. warm plunge and experiences difficulty
n regaininga normal temperature should
ry the experiment of sponging off with
,old water when leaving the hot bath
md see if the slight shock will not tone
Up the skin and prevent any subsequent
hill The beneficial effect of bath is
greatly heightened by a hard rubbing
lfter leaving it. A rather coarse or
ough Turkish towel should be used, and
he friction should not be stopped when
he moisture has been removed, but con-
inued until the body is in glow from
lead to foot This operation will only re-
uire few moments. and it is we'll worth
he trouble The best time for taking the
'ath must, like its temperature, be decided
" individual preferences. Some persons
md a bath taken late at night most
oothiDg; to others it is provocative of
The early morning bath is
ometimes fatiguing to delicate persons,
7hile to others it serves as tonic and is
q its stimulating and refreshing quail
les as valuable as an extra hours sleep.