New-York tribune., 1906-12-23
DRIVE YOUR HEART.
Advice Of an Expert Who Believes
an Hard WOrk.

The extraordinary prevalence of heart weak
ness is attracting attention. One week last sum-
mer there occurred in New York 120 deaths from
this cause: for the corresponding week in 1904
the number was but 56-an increase in one year
of more than 100 per cent. Sir James Crlchton-
Browne. in a lecture before the medical faculty
Of Victoria University stated that from 1859 to
1863. in England. 92,1S1 persons died of heart
weakness. while nervous disorders carried Off
$4,000. Both these figures he stated further
were greatly augmented from 1854 to 1SSS, being
then 224,l02 for heart weakness and @6O,55S for
nervous ailments.
SO much for the facts. Now, the remedy al
most universally proposed is less work. We
work too hard" is iterated and reiterated by
conservative Victims of heart failure and of
nervous troubles generally are instanced as i'm
mulations TO too strenuous civilization.
Now. L admit that high living and nervous
strain are deStroyCrS but deny that they will
produce serious heart weakness. Nor do I see
how they can drive to fatal speed" SO robust an
organ Far from it being fact that most of us.
oVCrdriye our hearts, intend to show that We do
not drive them half enough.
That the human heart is weak, as compared
with that of animals, is true, else We would not
be so prone to heart trouble. animals are X
empt from ii. Few men can run a mile, at even
moderate pace, without distress. Yet our do
mestic animals such as the dog and horse. keep
1t UP all day. But who has ever heard of a
horse dying from heart weakness? Horses have
SPAWN, collie. glanders, pneumonia-rare!y car
dlac trouble.
Animals take more exercise than men-drive
heart Weakness We frequently hear of man
running to catch boat or train and COllaps-
ing. All men and women, without being aJh-
lctes. ought to be able few yards with
out the slightest Inconvenience.
/ would propose then. offset to the ap-
pailing increase Of cardiac affections. that per-
sons leading scdeHt0ry life take more physical
exercise. Lack Of time is no excuse, a five
minute brisk run daily will maintain any ones
heart in q healthy condition. OF course. l do not
presume to prescribe exercise for those suffer-
ing from organic diseasc-such should consult
their physicians: but all who have merely weak
hearts can easily strengthen them by q brief,
though rational. system OF training.
The general effects Of physical work are
known to every one. That IL accelerates the
circulation. augments the intake of oxygen.
qulckens and increases the chemical changes in
the tissues whereby carbonic acid is formed
which gas must b" rapidly eliminated by the
lungs-these ara cOmmonplaces. And To say that
the heart. in order 10 supply the working mus
c!es' increased need Tor nutriment and oxygen
and 10 get rid Of the carbon doxlde and other
waste tissue products. must pump blood faster
and more strongly is another commonplace
But though We know all these things do we
fully realize what such vigorous work means To
the hearts health2 The strong heart that will
result from its greater amount of work will be
Tar less liable 10 its peculiar affections namely.
peflcarditis endocardttIs. hypertrophy. di3ata-
'un, I1tty degeneration. aneurism aud rupture.
, lho KIND OF exercise one should take for his
hearts sake is extremely important. AS have
already said exercise, to affect the heart SUM-