Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-04
is DISEASE A CRIME?


magazine published an editorial ar
ticle in which the writer asserted, In
substance. that all disease should be
regarded as criminal. Certain it IS,
that much of the sickness and suffer
ing of mankind is due to the viola
ton. of certain of Natures laws,
which, if understood and implicitly
followed, would result in the preven-
ton of much of the sickness and suf-
fering of humanity. But to say that
all sickness should be regarded as
criminal, must, on little sober re-
Election, appeal to every reasonable
and intelligent individual as radically
wrong.
Thousands suffer from contagious
and infectious diseases most inno-
Gently and unconsciously contracted.
Other thousands suffer and die of
cancerous affections, the cause of
which no medical man has yet been
wise enough to ferret out and deter
mine, and which cannot, therefore,
be avoided. Then, too, many times
stress of circumstances compel peo-
pie to expose themselves to various
disease-producing agencies, such as
malaria, bad air in overheated fac
tories, coal mines, and many other
situations, and surely those who SUI
fer therefrom should not be branded
as criminals.
In so far as disease is contracted
or brought on ones self from HARM
full excuses, over-eating, intemper-
ance and other like indulgences and
debauchery, we think, with our
editor friend, that it should be re-
garded as little less than criminal.
On the other hand, we think it would
be harsh, unsympathetic, cruel, yes,
criminal, to condemn the poor, weak,
overworked housewife who sinks I'M
der the heavy load of household
cares and burdens which she is
obliged to struggle along under until
she succumbs to the strain and over
exertion, and suffers from weakness
es, various displacements of pelvic
organs and other arrangements pc
culiar to her sex.
The too frequent bearing of chill
dren, with its exacting demands
UPON the system, coupled with the
care, worry and labor of rearing a
large family, is often the cause of
weakness, arrangements and debility
" hich the mother has to bear and
which are aggravated by the many
household cares, and the hard and
never-ending work which she is call
ed upon to perform. DR.. Pierce, the
maker OF that world-famed remedy
for .women's peculiar ills - DR..
Pieree's Favorite Prescription-says
that one OF the greatest obstacles to
the cure, of this class OF maladies is
the fact that the poor, overworked
housewife cannot get the needed rest
from her many household cares and
labor to enable her to secure from
the use OF his Prescription" its full
benefits 1t is a matter of frequent
experience, he says, in his extensive
practice in these cases, to meet with
those in which his treatment fails by
reason of the patients inability to
abstain from hard work long enough
to be cured. With those suffering
from prolapsus, ante-version and
retro-version of the uterus or other
displacement of the womanly organs,
it is very necessary that, in addition
to taking his "Favorite Prescrip-
ton" they abstain from being very
much, or for long periods, on their
feet. All heavy lifting or straining of
any kind should also be avoided. AS
much outdoor air as possible, with
moderate, light exercise is also very
important.
1t is DR.. Pierce's observation that
many housewives suffer much in a
weakened condition of their system
from too close confinement indoors.
Often the kitchen, where they spend
most OF their time, is lily ventilated
and the bad air and overheating
thereof act most unfavorably upon
the woman's strength, until she finds
herself suffering from various weak
nesses attended by backache, bear
ing-down pains, or dragging-down
sensations that are extremely hard
to bear. A catarrhal, pelvic drain, Of
most debilitating and disagreeable
nature, is a common symptom OF the
congested or infamed condition Of
the lining membranes of the pelvic