The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-04-05
THE HUMAN HEART.
interesting Reflections on the Preva-
 lence of Diseases Affecting 1t.

From the New York Herald.
 Dr. Beverley Robinson of this city, the well known authority on heart disease, has much to say in a recent issue of the American Journal of Medical Science, not only regarding the increasing preva- lence of heart affections, but on the va rious causes of the maladies as applied to our modern methods of living. As it is a timely suppliment to what has all ready appeared in various Herald editor ials, we make no apology for calling re- newed attention to the subject.
 There is no doubting the fact that car diac weakness is rapidly increasing, par ticularly among our own people, and that our strenuous life is mainly accountable for the condition. It is a twice told tale, but must, nevertheless, lose nothing in its telling if any good must eventually come of it by so doing
 The much-used term of heart failure has no real significance, save in clearly explaining what is behind it. It is well to understand that there are always plainly recognized structural changes oG the organ which make clear in a direct and convincing way the many causes of sudden death and that the apparently careless signification of weak heart" has a veritable foundation in scientific fact. The heart is a wonderfully constructed dynamic pump, with a working energy of seventy years and more but it must be treated as any other valuable ma chine, with due care as to capacity, strength, and endurance. But the oppo- site is so much the case that 1t is time to think and act in a reasonable way before it may be regrettably impossible to do so
 Not only does this important vital or gan become organically affected as the result of rheumatism, pneumonia. typhoid fever, diphtheria, grip, and Brights dis ease, but in a more indirect way by pure overstrain of function. Under the latter circumstances weakening and dilataton of the cardiac walls are most apt to ac- cur, and damage the victim to greater or less extent for life.
 From one day to another" says pr. Robinson, "some of these patients become conscious they have a heart by reason of palpitation and a feeling of weakness and inability to do their usual work Ere quently it has been the result of long continued mental work of a severe char acter to which there has rarely been even a temporary cessation. Again it has been the immediate result of some great and sudden affliction, or of collapsed business ventures after a short and losing fight to prevent relative poverty and obscurity, and, alasl at times greatly diminished prestige and honorable repute among ones fellows"
 In these cases it is perhaps not so much the weakness of the heart itself as the lack of nervous force behind the trouble. Obviously, then, the slightest systemic disturbance may seriously affect the or gan. A sudden strain, even of short dura- ton, is frequently very injurious and often fatal A heart once fairly dilated is too often permanently damaged. Like a skittish horse, 1t Is likely to shy on the slightest provocation.
 The so-caled "acute Indigestion is a notable contributory cause of collapse by a mere disturbance of heart action in an already crippled organ. What would In a well person mean simple attack of collie would be death to one with weak and dilated heart.
 Such persons should always be eau tioned against overexerton, particularly of physical character. Even severe men, tai perturbation often turns the scale. Not few of such cases are on record, proving the slight hold these affections have upon life. And yet the unwary vic tims are exposed to them, more or less, all the time We often hear of the man falling dead after running up a flight of satrs or hurrying to get a train. or of a poor girl who danced herself into fatal collapse. These are extreme instances, it is true. but they may, nevertheless. serve as les sons in their way. At the bottom of the whole business Is the dreadful hurry habit which has become characteristic of the American method of living. When will we stop to think? Alas! when?