Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-04-29
TOMATOES ARE RESPONSIBLE.
Said to Cause a Troublesome Affection
of the Heart.

F[DicuIeS especially anu I1o pODAio -
General should be warned by the IaIe
of Paul D. Warner, who was yesterday
discharged from the city hospital, not
because he was entirely cured, but De-
cause afflicted with two diseases, ne
decided to seek a different climate, pen
eficfal to the more fatal OF the TWO
When admitted to the institution sew
eral months ago Warner, While snow
ing symptoms of consumption, was
also suffering from a peculiar heart
affection, which, after repeated exam
nations by the attending physicians
ras pronounced to be lycopersicum
cardionathia, or tomato heart.
Curious as 1t may seem, the mans
dehitifated condition and the weakness
of that Important organ was due 10 tne
patients love for that luscious Veget-
able, which he ate at every meal. 1t
was not until the beginning of the CIVIL
war that the acceptance of the tomato
as an edible became general, and
Europe, up to the present time, mas
not given it welcome. ANALYSTS
have placed it among the vegetables
consisting of over IS per cent. water,
and it's fluid elem mt has been found to
consist of an acid called by some acidum
lycopersicum, and by others as acetic
and mailic in combination. Scientists
have long ago discovered, however,
that to some persons the tomato is a
veritable poison. In some cases the
symptoms develop Immediately and are
alarming, and in others the results are
cumulative. In the latter, as in the
case of Warner, an abnormal hypersen-
sitiyeness of the heart ami circulatory
apparatus is discovered. First, simple
heart irritability, with a latent inf1am-
alton of the inner wall, especially
about the oartic roots and valves. The
heart passes out of the condition of
equilibrium into a habit of irregularity
and inequality of rhythm and force
Difficult breathing supervenes and
| mits the capacity of eXertion.
When first admitted, Warner ex-
hibited all the symptoms of acute
poisoning, and for a while his case
baff1ed the skill of the attending ply
sician. Only when his inOrdinate fond
ness for fruit was discovered was a
diagnosis made possible He suffered
pain and gastric uneasiness, succeeded
by choking, belchings and heartburn
and vomiting. Then came an arrest
of the vital activity within the chest,
and the poor patient suffered as much
mentally nh Nvcsino
ton OF the disease being that it i'm
presses 1.self upon the mind, creating
depression and gloomy premonitions.
Cold sWeats appeared upon his fore
mead, being produced by heart fright
Headaches and a tension about the
temples became manifest, accompanied
ny IanSuor. At times also Warmers
speech became impeded, and he found
IL dlflcuIt to articulate, followed by an
Inconerence of thought, several ideas
seeming to seek expire ssion at the Same
time. He also experienced numbness
VI the myers and tongue, and general
perVe1sion of the senses. Durino
warmers stay at the hospital he was
treated freely with acetanilid and AL
cohol in equal proportions, and while
improving under this treatment he
was by no means cured when he was
discharged. This was only done, how
ever, at the earnest solicitation of the
patient himself, as he was afflicted with
consumption, as before stated, and de-
sired to go to a different climate for
relief from this disease, the more dan
ge1ous of the two.-Cincinnati En-
quirer.