The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-12-28
The PREVENTION OF
/ The INFLUENZA OR LA GRIPPE

Written :Sr The Spy, BY Edward c..
~ Mann, n. D.. i. s. 81
ssThere is today among Americans a
norbid nervousness which is an en-
uFely new state of the system, devel-
vging itself in modern society and MAX
ing itself manifest by neuralgia, sick
Neadache, dyspepsia, hay fever, neu-
Hsthemia or nervous prostration and
e grippe-for I rank la grippe among
Aes nervous diseases. This unprece-
oenfed nervousness, when 1t does not
mss into actual disease is also indi-
eated by an increased sensitiveness to
ueat and cold and a greatly aug
mentad- susceptibility to the action Of
Nifnulants and narcotics. Fat persons
&fe cless numerous and then persons
moro numerous in the WelL-fed classes
q society than was formerly the case.
S4le increasing nervousness of this
country is most clearly evinced by the
Wnnectio1 with and influence of the
ErVous system on other diseases not
properly nervous. Thus in diabetes the
nsrVQus system is in intimate relation
with the disease. and I consider that
y IL often induced by mental anxiety
MdE distress or by >udden fear or
sEo9li. It seems to me to be adj
NsncinG. pair passu, with the increase
VI nervous diseases. 1t is a disease
dscidedly more common than 1t used to
ee and | attribute it's greater pre-
kflence to our present date Of civiliza-
Won. Bright's disease of the kidneys
ofphrftes and granular kidney are also
saused and aggravated by mental
worry and anxiety. Heart diseases are
eieo increasing steadily, particularly
hose of nervous origin and nature.
Hh"umatism and govt, in both Of
which there is nervous element, are
more severe than they were years ago.
gre. even though it be not shortened,
to often made miserable by so-called
mild nervous disorders, such as hys-
terra, herpes Zoster, writer's cramp
and sick headache. Premature bald
ness and decay of the teeth are far
more frequent than they used to be,
while our leading druggists can bear
witness to the truth of my statements
by testifying as to the greatly-in
creased consumption Of neurotic rem
edies. The consumption of tea, coffee
and tobacco is largely on the increase;
the two former neurotic beverages and
she latter great nerve sedative. The
neurotic circle in society as well as the
distinctly insane circle in society, is
increasing out Of proportion to the. in
crease of population. The causes of all
this nervousness are due first to the
Increasing completely of the nervous
system, and, secondly, to the in
creased complexity of life. The brain,
! consider, is increasing in size in the
American people and this affects its
functional activity immensely. Even
though its size may not be increased,
there is a great elaboration in struC-
Lure and in the way of finer architec-
ture of our brains. New phases of in
telligence and new proclivities to nerv-
Gus disease-our brains are finer in
Ftructure and more subtle in mechan-
ism, but instability is the result. The
conditions of modern life, which act
on our complex and eXcitable nervous
systems cause our increased nervous
disease and even mental disease itself.
Modern systems Of education are also
influential in promoting nervousness
and in contributing to the increase Of
mental and nervous disease.
The general tendency Of modern edu-
cation on the young is to increase the
activity and susceptibility of the nerv-