Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-05-29
Health Talks by DR.. Brady
Compnre Tn md CvD.

Lot Ne clear tho track before start TB
Uuherculosis) was once called consumption"
because the ld-tinle physicians were able to
diagnose /, only in the late stage after the
patient had actually become cmaciated and
then. Of course. the chance for recovery was
slight Nowadays, with instruments Of pre-
clson doctors recognize tho disease In the
early stage before the long tissue is de-
stroyed. and with cashier treatment most cases
recover.
CNp (cardio- vascular deEcneration) is the
heart artery wearing out which manitcsts it
self In constantly Increasing number Of
persons around middle age in the form OF har
dcnng OF the arteries. chronic nephritls
(Bright's discase). slow heart muscle failure
apopieXy tstroke Of paralysis, cerebral
hcmorrhace) There Is an carly stage OF CVD
In which II il possible to recognize the con-
dition and prevent the wreck toward which
the patient is drifting. But unfortunately
the great majority OF patients In the early
stage OF CND not only decline to accept an
early diagnosis. which must per!orce be tenta-
tive in character, but often resent Il to the
extent az breaking with the doctor who so
far forGcts himself as TO make honest
diagnosis. Bernard Shaw was right. usual.
when he told tho doctors OF London some years
ago that tho family doctor dare not tell his
patients the truth lest they change doctors.
Some patients change doctors about often
as they change their shirts; others change
each spring: very few stick TO doctor
through 4 period or years unless the DOCTOR
10 an affable and kindly liar. OF course. every
good doctor Is an accomplished prevaricator
about secrets In general, but here and there
actually finds good doctor who rashly
tells the truth about tho diagnosis. and what
Is still rcma rkahle. there are actually
a few anomalous individuals who stu patron
lie a doctor after he has made tentative
diagnosis of CVD in the early purely
functional" stage.
That meaningless phrase always finds itR
way in here OF course all disease Is func-
tional-disease Is nothing else than altered
function. All symptoms produced by al
tered functions; every sign Of disease a ply
sicIan clicits by any kind of examination is
Just the record OF a disturbed or altered func-
ton. In very crude way only di-
vide disease diseases into functional"
and organic: the habit OF attempting to so
distinguish disease conditions developed Ions
ago when doctors had only dead pathology
to guide them and long before the invention
OF the many Instruments OF precision which
are now In AS learn TO recognize
disease In it's incipiency or beginning. the ar
bitrary distinction OF organic and "func-
tional" trouble loses all Significance.
Notwithstanding all efforts to educate the
public about tuberculosis there are still many
victims Of that disease in the incipient stage
striving to convince themselves that they have
merely functional trouble OF some sort.
Yet there very few. indeed when com
pared with tho numbers OF victims OF cardio-
vascular degeneration in it's carly stages who
persist in experimenting with all sorts OF
remedies purporting TO he "tonics" or good
for that tired feeling. nervous trouble. poor
digestion. Administrations. weak blood. run
down condition and the like. Not unit, some
serious development precipitates crisis do
they even consult physician.