Year: 1875




A very interesting article in the Pop


ulor Science Monthly says: II there is any


one disease that the diligent brainworker


a little past middle life has reason to fear,


it is apoplexy Although statistical evil
dence is wanting, the experience OF the
physician confirms the popular belief that


more of our distinguished men are carried


off by this disease, or by one of its sequels,


paralysis, than by any other cause. There


are no vessels carrying blood to and from


the various organs of the body which so
frequently rupture as those in the BRAIN


The causes that produce this result are the


fatty degeneracy of the middle arterial


coat OF the cerebral vessels, whereby their


elastic strength is much impaired, the


great irregularity Of blood distribution to


the contents Of the Uranium and the little


support which the pulpy substance of the
/ brain gives to the weakened vessels i'm
| bedded in it. The chief causes which pro-
lduce this structural change are the habi


tual use of ardent spirits and tobacco.
/ Every one is aware that the leading effects


of these agents on the body are such as
! show that the functions of the nervous
system are more affected than any other,
and the physician also knows that when
/ the symptoms of disorder arise from their
use they are such as denote that the ner-


vous system is almost alone implicated.
Ardent spirits also tend to produce an
overfuiness of the cerebral vessels, and to
affect the functions of the brain in man
ner which strangely blend stupidity.
brightness, and exhilaration. Effects so
unnatural and so frequently ending in dis
ease, influence injuriously the nutrition Of
the nervous centers. And to interfere
with the nutrition of any part of the body
is simply to impair the life and power of
its structure. The evidences of this i'm
pairment may not be felt Immediately.
| In fact the evidences of impairment by any
bad habit are seldom apparent during the
prime Of youthful vigor. But the mischief
is going on. nevertheless, and the organ


upon which the weight of infringement
falls viii be the one that will first mani
test signs of disease, and through which
death will make its conquest over the
body.


During sleep the brain is almost blood
| less: its substance seems to shrink into
lifeless mass, but the moment that wake
fulness occurs it swells out, gets red, its
arteries and veins becoming distended
W III a XIV az lltc vi Dltoo' ANo oIHSI pdl
of the body is subject to such droughts
and floods in its circulation. This in
equality is still further increased by severe
mind labor. The ardent student is we'll
aware that deep thought heats the head
and cools the feet. The first apoplectic
stroke, as a rule, is not a severe one; a
little blood escapes by a tiny rent, the
shock to the system slows the action of
/ 81 10 hrsr 81
nature heals the part torn and removes the
blood eliot by absorption. Then, as the
hlood-vessels in the brain grow weaker,
under greater tension than ordinary, a
larger rent is made, allowing the blood to
escape in hopeless profusion. Napoleon
stood in great dread of this disease, and
was told by his medical adviser: Sire,
the first attack is warning, the second a
summons, the third a summons to execu-
ton"


What is to be done by those who in
herit tendency to apoplexy or whose
habits of life predispose them to this dis
ease2 Clearly to diminish and keep the
tension on these vessels by the blood at
low rate at all time. \ prudent fireengi |
neer, when his water hose are old and
weak, would work them at low pressure.
Men must carry out the same simple
mechanical principle, when there is reason
to believe that the vessels of the brain are
getting weak and brittle. A stroke of
apoplexy occurs frequently after eating a
full meal.


As soon as old age puts decided check
on the amount of daily exercise, it is time
70 put decided check on the amount of
food daily consumed. The kind of food
best adapted to keep down superfluous
blood is the vegetable. The true rule is
not to eat to entire safety. Even those of
younger years and sedentaIy habits will
feel lighter and better in every way by
leaving the table little hungry.