The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-02-16


amined the annual reports made to the
registrar general Of England for a
period of thirty years, and below are
some Of his conclusions: There is no
question that certain functional neu-
roses, more specially failure of brain
power, hysteria, hypochOndrasis and
similar affections, have been for some
time past on the increase owing to the
iact that the struggle Of life Is keener
the competition more intense, the work
heavier, and the anxiety more absorb
ing, than used to be the case in previous
periods of the history of mankind, more
especially in the large centers of popu-
lation. The nervous system Is, there
fore. more liable to break down by
exhaustion than was the case in for
mer times. This, however, does not APP
ply to the really organic or structural
diseases of the brain and spinal cord
auch as tumour. softening, innamma-
ton, etc, nor to epilepsy and insanity
which continue to occur in about the
rome ratio now as they have done be-
fore.
DR.. Althaus complains that many OF
his predecessors in this field of inquiry
have reached wholly erroneous coaclu-
sions. Thus NJ. Falret, for many years
physician TO La Salpetriere, ascertained
that of 2,297 cases of apoplexy, 1,1G0 oc-
Cured in males and only 637 I'm females
and DR.. Hammond of New York, found
the proportion to be lj3 male and 7G
flf 10 la in tntl If hot
numbers led those authors to confident
ly express the opinion that apopleXy Oh
cerebral hemorrhage was more com
mon amongst men than amongst wo-
men; and yet it is shown by DR.. Alt
haus' researches, which comprise not
229 as DR.. Hammond's, or 1000 like NJ.
Fabrets, but nearly a quarter of a
million cases, that women, in England
at least, are rather more liable to die
of apoplexy than men, and this not only
for year or two, but absolutely in the
whole period over which the investiga-
tiOn extends. Unless we therefore as
sumo that deaths from apoplexy occur
in France and in the United States in
very different proportion from what
they do in England, we are led to the
conclusion that the two physicians just
named accidentally happened to come
across more cases of males than fe-
males in the limited field of observa-
tion which was at their disposal, and
that their deductions are therefore ue-
void of value.
This is the doctors summary of his
findings:
First-The rate at which diseases of the
nervous system prove fatal to the popula-
tion of this country is steady one and
subject TO a definite law, TO which there
are not any or only apparent exceptions.
This rate does not appear to vary per-
ceptibly from time to time. and amounts
to about u per cent. of the entire mortal
ity from all causes.
Second-Diseases of the nervous system
occupy the fourth rank amongst the NAL
aides destructive of human life, being
only surpassed in fatality by zymotic, tu-
bercular and respiratory diseases.
Third Nervous diseases are not, as is
commonly asserted, more frequent, but,
on the contrary, less numerous in large
towns than in the country, and it is prob
influenced by race.
Fourth-SeX has a considerable influ-
ence on the productions of nervous dis
eases; for although in this country the
population of females exceeds that Of
males, the deaths of males from nervous
affections preponderate constantly over
those OF females, the male death rate be-
ing 1894 and the female ll.Ga Der cent
fitth-Age has even a more powerful
influence on the production of nervous
diseases than sex; for these maladies at
tain an immense maximum in the first
year of life owing to the great prevalence
of infantile convusions. They are much
less frequent in youth and middle age,
and attain second maximum in old age
that is after seventy-owing to the pre-
valence of apopleXy and paralysis: but the
second maximum amounts TO only about
the tenth part of the first maximum at
tained during infant life.
1t is now something over year since
one William Kinnear advanced his
ingenious formula for prolonging the
life of mankind 100 years beyond the
Scrintural limit Of three score and
ten. Yet candor impels the confession
that the mortality rates show as yet
no signs of large decrease in conse-
quent thereof; and 1t begins to look
very much as IL the modern man. con-
stantly terrorized as he is by new mi
crobes, mephitisns, social problems
and augmented tax rates. had about
concluded not to avail himself of the
kinnear prescription for longevity, but
had preferred, instead. to shuttle off
this burdensome mortal coil as rapidly
as the law will permit. That prescrp-
tion. you will remember. was fol-
lows: Avoid all foods rich in earthly
salts, using much fruit, especially
juicy, uncooked apples, and take daily
two or three tumblerfuls of distilled
water with five, ten or fifteen drops
of dilute phosphoric acid in each glass.
full" If any Scrantonian desires to t.
this experiment, he can do so at We
small cost: and If II causes him to live :
years. he will have the satisfaction,
doubt, of seeing a good many advano
in human knowledge and achievement
which you and I can only dream about.
His kindly Feelings:
The patient had been sick long time
and the doctor had done his best but in
vain. and the end was approaching.
"If you have anything to say before
going" said the doctor, ut will be best
for you to say 1t now
We'll doctor" replied the patient
cheerfully, 81 have only the kindliest
feelings for you, for I'm sure you