Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1899-05-17
nAmnrican Disease

NNNN0NNSat 1NSNASOt
In the death OF former Governor
Roswell P. Flower many persons con
tend that another illustration Is AFFORD
ed in support OF the assertion thai
Americans go through life under toe
great a nervous tension, forcing upon
themselves a mental strain that is in
time bound to affect the health, II moi
the life of the individual. AS was apt
ly said by DIR. George f. Shrady yester-
day, in discussing the subject:
"The average American constantly
burns an electric light in his body
above the eyes, while the dynamo be-
low, represented by hls nervous sys-
tenn, is also kept going without inter
mission. The result of this is that
sooner or later the electric light is
bound to go out, as a result of the dy-
namO not having had time to rest and
gain additional power"
DIR. Shrady yesterday mentioned
many names at random as illustrative
OF his meaning that the deaths OF so
many persons, particularly in the Unit
ed States, are due to the fact that they
live at such a high tension, never
giving themselves an opportunity to
obtain mental rest. This condition is
peculiar to the American people, he de-
clared, and does not exist to anything
like an equal extent among the inhab-
itants of other countries, where the
same break-Reck speed to amass
wealth, fame, business success or
whatever may be the goal sought, is
not followed.
Neurasthenia is the term which has
been given to the complaint, which is
known as "the American disease" "
and which 20 years ago was laughed at
by many learned persons, who declared
that 1t existed chiefly in the imagina
ton.
The scientific discoveries and i'm
provements which have taken place
within the last few years have done
much to make the disease more wide
spread and universal, DR.. Shrady as
serted. The almost universal use OF
the telephone, the telegraph and cleo
tricity in other forms, which tend to
influence people to think more rapidly,
keep their mind occupied more con-
stantly and add in general way to the
intense strain on the nerves and sys-
tenn and directly on the mental powers,
is largely responsible for this, DR..
Shrady holds.
There is nothing more exciting than
The life in Wall street, he declared. The
desire for gain is so great in mans ma
ture that he will risk his health and
his life in satisfying it. The worst of
1t is that those who are engaged in
Wall street speculations pay no heed
to the warnings which nature gives
that the danger line Is being reached
The fatal ending which follows the
strain on the nervous system is so in
sidious in its approach, said DIR. Shra-
dy, that the victim pays no heed to 1t,
or denies himself with the belief that
the end is yet far off.
He decides upon one more operation
in stocks, he has one more restless
night, while his brain is engaged in
planning a movement in Wall street
for the next day, but like a flash the
end comes. He has forced nature once
too often,and theend comes with a sud
denness which shocks his friends, who
did not imagine that death was so near
or that it came by reason of the in
cerasing demands made upon natures
forces.
This result, DR.. Shrady said, is
brought about in different ways. Men
tai strain will sometimes cause indi-
gestion. The heart becomes affected,
and there is a general inclination to-
ward disease, which increases and at
tacks a man fatally when his system
is not in proper condition to resist it.
If he supplements this condition by
smoking black cigars or by using liq-
uor he helps to weaken his constitu-
tion.-New York Herald.