Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1905-03-25
CAUSES OF HEART DISEASE.

ssBad whisky, rheumatism, mental
strain and high living are among the
leading causes Of heart disease" said
DIR. Henry P. Loomis, of New York,
when his attention was called to the
report of the Mutual Life Insurance
Company. which heads the death list
with $40 cases of organic heart disease
out of a total of 1897 deaths, and puts
Brights disease fourth in the list.
'It is easier, however, to admit q
tremendous increase in the number OF
deaths from heart disease than TO point
out any reason for the increase.
"Many cases of heart disease are di.
rectlv traceable to mental strain and
high living, the heart being indirectly
affected through other organs.
"In nine cases out of ten-well, no,
that's putting it too strongly, perhaps;
I would say rather that the majority OF
the cases of heart disease which come
under my notice are due to rheumatism
in many forms.
cit is true, of course, that one may
have heart disease and yet not be afiiict-
ed with rheumatism, and vice versa.
Speaking generally, | would say that in
the case OF the rich, believe that rich
| food and lack of proper exercise, exces.
sive drinking and persistent mental
strain are the main causes tor heart
disease.
sThe strenuous life plus mental anx-
ietv is in the days almost irreyocably
associated with these upper classes.
don't think, though, that there is any
increase 10 drinking among the rich; in
fact, believe just the reverse; and the
rich man has this in bis fayor-he at
least can drink good liquor when he
drinks at all.
"With the poorest classes it is diff
ferent. The great army of mechanics,
drivers and laborers who work out OF
doors are more or less prey to heart
disease, not only because OF prolonged
exposure, which fosters ills which 10
turn weaken the heart, but because OF
the drinking habit, which is often ac'
quired in consequence Of this exposure.
s1 have known men who thought they
must take from 10 to 8 drinks OF whisky
day to minimize the bad effect Of ex-
posure and who could hardly be persua-
ded to the contrary. Now, even if the
whisky they drank was OF good quality,
the result would be bad, very bad; but
when a man continues, day after day,
az manv a one does to pour down his
throat the most adulterated stuff in the
| market, his finish is not far off. His
heart is bound to give out.
81 am heartily in favor of Bishop Pot
ter's saloon plan to this extent; Give
the DOOR, as we'll as the rich, man pure
liquor. II be must and will drink, let
him have brand of whisky that will do
him the least harm."
"Worry, fret, hurry and rheumatism" "
is the way DIR. Darlington, of the health
board, checked of the causes for heart
disease.
"Don't run, and avoid rheumatism,
are among the health recipes which
ought TO be first considered by the man
or woman who wants his or her heart
to keep on ticking normally for three
score and ten years or longer. 1t is
safe To say that a person of temper
ate habits in eating and drinking, who
takes six or eight hours sleep out of the
"a and some exercise afoct in the open
air every day, and who absolutely re-
fuses 10 worry and fret over his business
or anything else, will never die of heart
disease"