The National tribune., 1903-02-19
DEPARTMENT NEWS.

DEATH CAUSE-PATHOLtG
SEQ the pension case of the
widow OF AlonZo w. Cole it is held that
1.-The soldier was pensioner on account
of insanity fparetic dementia), and died OF
acute obstruction of the bowels.
'.As tile intestines were paretic as well
as other parts of the body, it is not illogi-
cal to regard the intestinal obstruction as
due to the disability for which soldier was
pensioncd.'
The decision says asst Secretary
Campbell, Dec. II, 1902:
1.-The records of the War Department
disclose that the soldier was discharged
from service Sept. II, 1896, on Surgeons
certificate of disability, at Fort Clark,
Tex. The Surgeon certified that he was
incapable of performing the duties of a
soldier because Of
"Incipient stages of general paresis OF
the insane. He is at present suffering
from insanity of a mild type with slight
muscular disorders
"Hc was examined by a Board of Sur
geons June 8, 1897, under n claim for pen
sion which he filed Oct. 20. 1896, which
certified as follows:
".Wc find him totally incapacitated
from manual labor. Paralysis agitans OK
lists TO such extent that he is unable to
walk safely without assistance. There is
nonInlIscniar coordination of all muscles
Of the body to such an extent that he must
have continued attendance. He is par
tally unable to void his urine at all times
and will soon require mechanical AID
General byperesthesia exists. No connec-
ton of thought or ideas. There is i'm
becility. He is not qualified to transact
any business, and is wholly incapacitated
to perform manual labor.
""The above conditions were not the re-
suit of any vicious habits.
"'This claimant is so totally and per-
manently helpless from abOve-described
| condition that he requires the regular per-
sonai aid and attendance of another per-
son.
1T is shown the soldier was admitted
to the State Lunatic Asylum No. ;, Ne
vada. Mo-, Nov. u, 1897. and died therein
Feb. 6, 1893. The clinical history of his
last illness is embodied in several afiida-
Wits of DR.. S. A. Johnson, a resident ply
sician of the said Institution.
This affidavit contains Il very cOmpre-
hensive clinical history Of the soldiers ia
| tai illness. 1t is quite evident the symp-
tom-cOmpleX points to an acute Obstruc-
ton of the bowels. DIR. johnson is in
clined to regard said obstruction as due
| to imagination, and such theory is ten
| able; but in the absence of post-mortem
| examination it can not be accepted that
such was in fact the case, and as fecal
obstruction is not unusual i'll the paretic,
it is more reasonable to conclude that this
was the particular condition in this case
| However, it is not important as to the par.
| ticular cause of the intestinal obstruction,
as the origin primarily of such accidents
is an insufciency of the forces that move
the contents of the bowel onward. This
movement, known as perstalsis, originates
in nervous impulses supplied to the mus
cular fibers of the intestines. Pathology
teaches that lcssening of the eXpulsive
power of the intestine is chiefly due to
| alteration in the nervous supply. Occa-
sionally this may be of cerebral origin, as
| in the extremely obstinate constipation of
melancholia, mania, or other cerebral dis
eases. In other words, the intestinal
function of normal peristalsis depends
upon perfect inneryatiOn.
1.-The disease with which this claimants
husband was afflicted is variOuSly known
| as the puretic dementia, general paralysis
of the insane, paralytic dementia, paresiS
the insane, paralytic dementia. paresis,
and as progressive general paralysis. The
pathological process is widespread, in
volving both brain and cord and even the
portant because of its serious and progress
sive character. 1t is n disease in which
a gradual change ensues in all the men-
tai and physical powers, a change which
is desenerative in nature. Dercum.) There
is progressive general paralysis of the
whole body. When it is considered that
in cases of paresis the intestines are pare
tic as well as all other parts Of the body.
it is not illogical to regard the intestinal
in cases of paresis the intestincs are par
etic as well as other parts of the body,
cd. He was in the terminal stage of the
disease, and his death would have, of
course, occurred within few months at
most.
"For the reasons herein set out the ac
ton of the Bureau is reversed"