Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1919-10-20
PRESIDENTS CONDITION.

The country is being forced to the
conclusion that President Wilson is Il
very sick man. Not that there is any
likelihood of his present illness result
ing fatally-at least not for some years
hut lie may never fully recover his
former degree of vigorous health and
strcpgth-physically and mentally.
Dr.. Arthur G. jacobson, associate cd
itor of the Medical Times. has written
somewhat comprehensive review OF
the aiment from which the president
is suffering and arrives at the cOncll,-
sion. very reluctantly. we may believe.
that Mr.. Wilson will never fully recov-
cr.
1t will be recalled by the reading
public that some months prior to the
death of the late tTheodore Roosevelt,
DR.. jacobson prepared a review OF tne
former presidents illness. At the time
the public was not prepared to accept
the doctors conclusions, as it was not
generally understood that Mr.. Roose-
velt's condition was serious. However.
subsequent events have demonstrated
that DR. jacobson was more correct i'll
his diagnosis of the former president 5
ed to believe. And it may now be fear
ed that the doctor has truly fathomed
the seriousness of the malady that has
overtaken Mr.. Wilson. The public will
be slow to accept the doctors version
of the case. because it doesn't want to
believe it. The peoplc-all the people :
regardless of any differences they have
politically or otherwise, want their
president to be well, physically ana
mentally able to perform the eXacting
duties dcvolving upon his great Office.
Hence the general hope will be that the
doctor is mistaken and that he takes
Il far too gloomy view of Mr.. Wilson's
real condition.
DR.. Jacobson points out that Mr.. Will
son was victim OF influenza, being at
tackled while in Paris, and insists that
is the foundation of the present
trouble Sir William Osler, the most
distinguished of physicians" is quoted
as saying that almost every form Of
disease of the nervous system may fol
low influenza" Neurasthenia is par
ticularly liable to follow It. and Sat is
the disease from which the president is
now suffering, according TO DIR. Jacob
son, who says:
'.Even a. mild Influenza would be
pretty sure to cause ne1lrasthenia in
moephere of anxiety and worry.
Grave manifestations of such = neu-
rasthcnia might be long delayed in one
of Mr. Wilson's vigorous constitution.
and an appearance of good health very
frequently masks the real condition.
''All the symptoms of neurasrle'iia
are due to a state of fatigu', involving
the various structures of the Body.
1.-THE mind is frequently affected and
the patient becomes impatient. appre-
hensivc and irritable.
Being in state Of fatigue ard irri-
liability, the patient becomes hypersell-
sitive to many forms Of stimulation,
and the fatigue occasions discomfort
which manifests itself in the form of
pain.
owing to the fatigue and irritable
state of the mind, emotional distur-
Dances have an increased influence on
the mental activities, and are also
frequently reflected in an exaggerated
upon the physical functions of
the body.
''1n cases which take on a severe
character, the patient finds it difficult
to think. He discovers that his mem
DRY is failing him and that he cannot
fix his attention or concentrate his
thoughts. and he gets into a panic be-
cause he thinks that these symptoms
are the fOrerunners of a complete men
tai breakdown. He can be reasoned
with and be made to realize that his
fears are groundless, yet he may find
himself unable to diSpel them.
"The symptoms gradually become
more marked, the mental anxiety in
creases, the capacity for work diminisl-
es and condition is established in
which worry, intrOspection, anxiety and
decreased capacity for work are pres
nnt with increased demands. owing to
the fact that the work is never com
pleted.
Mental rest. so essential in neuras-
thenia, is difficult to attain. What
al A7TTU NIX