The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-27
MEDICAL NOTES.
prepared for the Sunday Journal by
an Old PractitiOner1

prepared Tor the SUNNY JOuruuA W
an Old Practftioner1
Dr. Stuver believes that with increased
civilization there is decreased degeneration,
and claims that ere long we shall repeat
the history of Greece and Rome, and civil
lied nations will fall into ruin and decay.
He refers to the excessive population,
herded together in large cities, surrounded
by poor sanitary environment and breath
ing impure and Initiated air, making a pre-
tense of living upon insufficient or excessive
amounts of improper kinds of food, keep
ing late hours and INDUCING in excuses OF
various kinds, viciously spurred on by the
high pressure of modern living and the
struggle for wealth, and says that each of
these lower health and diminish vital re-
sistance of the larger part Of the popula-
ton. This is still further influenced by
the almost universal use of stimulants and
narcotics and by fatal diseases, such as
tuberculosis and cancer, so that 1t would
seem that progress in sanitation and n.y.
giene and the precautions taken against
contagious and infectious diseases have
been offset and lowered by general vitality.
Within the last twenty or thirty years the
percentage of insane people has enormously
increased proving that mental health Is
waning, this being due to vicious methods
of education which cultivate the intellectual
faculties at the expense of the moral and
physical the result being an irregular and
one-sided development, producing social de-
generates.
DIR. Hills, in a continuation of his re-
marks upon the value of alcohol, makes a
statement which goes far to place his some
what radical opinions in better light.
While alcohol may be of value in exhaust
ing diseases by favoring the production OF
fat, on the other hand, in a state of health,
when the body is sufficiently nourished,
alcohol exhausts the liver and kidneys In
the efforts to eliminate II from the body.
AS a stimulant alcohol is of benefit in It'd
ing patient over a crisis, as In pneumonia,
and as a rapid and true tonic and food in de-
pressed states of the system, as in typhoid
fever. especially when the stomach rejects
other foods and stimulants. He recommends
old whisky in tablespoonful doses, with
little cracked ice or a small quantity OF
water every four or five minutes, accord
ing to the strength of the patient to endure
IT. By thus giving it frequently In small
doses as much as four ounces may be given
In an hours time. and can then be followed
and its action maintained by bouiiion at
longer intervals. 1t should never be given
when it irritates the stomach, nor should
Il be taken before any severe exertion or
after eating. He comes to the conclusion
that at certain times alcohol may be or the
greatest value, and at other times serious
poison. Above all, he does not think 1t
capable of stimulating the brain to in
creased mental activity.
So-called health resorts are often eventu-
ally death breeders there is such flock
of invalids congregated In them that the
very air and soil become pestiiential. The
history Of Mentone forcibly illustrates this.
Forty years ago Mentone was healthy
village In France, where the happy peas
antry contentedly cultivated their farms.
By accident II became known that the
climate Of this region was most beneficial
for consumptives. and 1t became the mecca
of these unfortunates. The peasants
neglected their farming to cater to the
wants Of the strangers Healthy women
forsook their diaries and became washer
women. No preventive precautions were
taken. and to-day, as result of this. the
place is bacillus ridden, pest hole, death
itself. and the once sturdy inhabitants, pic
lures of health, are an emaciated. cough
ing. bleeding people, saturated with the
germs of consumption. The lesson Is
forcible one. for thousands of health re-
sorts to-day will become like Inflated
Mentone If proper precautions are not
| taken to destroy all germs.
4 =
Change Of scene is a fayorite remedy
among the laity and one often recommend
ed by physicians without regard to condi-
tons. In cases of nervous exhaustion. for
example. often forerunning insanity.
/ change OF scene may do good. but II can
not be recommended on hand and without
provisos. A constant change of scene. with