Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-06-19
HEART DISEASE GRAVE MENACE
Mortality from It Increases, Other
 Maladics Decline.


 Mortality from It Increases, Other
 Maladics Decline.
 That the effect produced by high strung nervous tension induced by modern methods of social and busi- ness competition must be regarded as causative factor in the produc- tion of functional and ultimately or ganic cardiac disease was the point made by Dr Thomas Darlington, commissioner of health of New York city, at the twenty-fifth annual meet ing of the American Climatological association, which assembled under the presidency of Dr Thomas D. Cole man of Augusta, Ga.
 The cause of the increased mor- tality from heart disease said Dr Darlington, lis the crucial point of the investigation, the sine qua non of our labors, yet this question of ex. treme movement was either left un- answered or met with frank I don't know That the increase is not de- pendent upon climatic conditions is clearly shown by the statistics. That the infectious diseases cannot be held responsible is equally true.
 We must search deeper for the underlying causes of this menace. During the early years uf our na- tional life physical labor was the rule and essential in the upbailding of the country, but with it, hand in hand, went the normal and whole some conditions of living imposed by the limitations of young country and the verile qualifications inherent in the hardy settler.
 Then, with the advent of what we are pleased to call the concomitant attributes of civilization, came the age of social and mental unrest, vast commercial opportunities and compe- tition. We are paying our prices for our social and material advance ment.
 Out of 275,0OO children exam ined in the public schools of New York city more than 70 per cent were found to be suffering from some physical abnormality-al handi- capped at the very beginning of their life of struggle-and of these chill dren nearly $500 had heart disease in some form. There is q wide gulf between the three R's' which were taught in the country school fifty years ago and the extensive and ov- erburdening system of education now placed before the children. Economical conditions to-day are also bearing hard upon .heir physi- cal we'll being.
 Children acquire by subtle infer enee the thought that the ultimate measure of gain is the acquisition of the almighty dollar With such a goal the race starts dearly in life and competition is the relentless pacemaker.
 Tn this connection we must take account of the modern tendency to over indulgence in athletic sports. It is we'll known that over activity in this direction, with the physical strain resulting from keeniy con tested games, leaves its imprint on the physicalstatus of the immature or under-developed youth Insurance companies consider athletes poor risks and this attitude is we'll grounded, It would seem that the medical profession might we'll take eognizance of this matter to ascer-- tain what bearing it has, if any, upon this question of increase in the prevalence of and death rate from heart disease.
 "Osler, the master mind of medi- cine. has given to his profession its master word, and in it is held, if not entirely, at least partially, the solu. tion of our difficulties.
 !" 'Equanimity' is the need of the times and the need of the people. Let us teach it, let us live according to it's law. In calmness of mind and evenness of purpose we may find the panacea the world is seeking to com bat, the ills arising from mental and physical unrest:"