Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-09-19
AN AMERICAN Evil.
Observations Of . Noted European
Specialist.
PEOPLE Who KNOW NO REST.
Paralysis and kindred Diseases the
Result of the RuinOus Pace Pc
culinr to Americans.


pacsion Of knowledge in every department Of life.
Medical science has advanced 50 rapidly during
the past few decades that the field has grown too
for any man TO satisfactorily control. In
my mind IL Is better to be expert in one branch
OF the profession than indifferent practitioner In
all
The speaker DIR. r. A. Walker. the cele-
brated specialist in the treatment OF diseases Of
the brain and nervous system. He in his ele-
gantly appointed pariors at 1911 Pennsylvania ave-
me yesterday afternoon. and graz iousy permitted
the reporter TO interrupt, his business for few
minutes for the purpose of obtaining his views on
modern specialism- The doctor talked freely and
with the quiet, convincing air of man WIN
thoroughly understands his subject. ~
There 4 time he said, sailing, when
the profession, represented by the general prac
titioner, inclined regard the specialist
with certain degree Of Gsntsrapt, II not
picion. That time has gone by, except with n few
relics Of old foeyisrn. vino are incapable of keep
Ing pace with the adyanee pf science, and who re-
gard any departure from the tenets of the old
school rank hesesy.. 1T b. true. regret say,
that there are some quacks in this country who
write themselves 'speciaists,' but as a rule they
such papabIe frauds that the Intelligent public
ought to readily distinguish them from the true
physician
When asked what prompted him to make a
special stnsiy IL uerseus ami brain diseases, Dr.
Walker replied
while yet student became impressed with
what seemed to me a self-evi1ent fact, that u
great majority or The diseases common TO humanity
In general owed their origin primarily to some
Disturbed condition of the nervous system. l soon
developed theories of my own. and entered the
field to demonstrate their practicabnity and value
For the past twenty years have given my whole
attention TO diseases arising from disturbances of
the brain and nervous system During that time
nave pursued my Investigations in all the large
hospitals Of Europe and Arlerica, and, as you
nav hoo,
or the most advanced European specialists
HOW are nervous diseases usually contracted -
In great variety OF ways. And the great
trouble is that many Of them are not regarded as
nervous diseases at all by the average physician
and consequently are not properly treated Take
case that came under pry own observation A
man In perfect health sat at his dinner table; he
received Message containing unpleasant. news: in
an instant his physical being underwent a change
MS appetite was gone. his digestion arrested.
and he was victim Of incpient dyspepsia with
various other ills in prospect. all due the shock
received by mis- nervous system receiving the
message. To cure that man II necessary to
restore his nerJous system lis normal condition.
Is nervous exhaustion peculiarly American
dLseaser'
at = much more common here than In any other
country replied the doctor, '.bctause the In
dueements TO active effort are great that bus.-
ness life Is assumed at a very early age uni with
extreme zeal i'm the United St1t.s. But 1t exists
IN other countries as well. 1 remember hearing
Dr. william Erb. the famous psychologist. of the
University OF Heidelberg, say that hysteria hypo-
ehondria End neurasshenia were increasing wilt;
fearful r1pidity among both sexes in Germany ow-
Ing to The ruinous pace at which the people were
living His words might be applied with double
force TO this country. The diseases often begin in
CHILDHOOD. If. indeed they hot inherited Minds
are cverburdened In school with too much teaching
The pleasures Of social life fo)w over eAcitins the
alrrady enfeebled nervous sys-enl- Business life