SUDDEN DEATHS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3770, 10 September 1907, Page 3

SUDDEN DEATHS.

The many sudden deaths that have occurred within the last few days, most of which were.,,the result of heart disease in one fofm of another led a N.Z. Times .reporter to make some enquiries recently among medical men in the city. The reporter desired to know if it Were a common circumstanceJthat many people them a diseased heart or .other organ, following their Vnsuial occupation in the meantime ? , One of the best-known medical men in the city who was first interviewed said that it was fairly common for those suffering with a disease that might at any time prove fatal to be quite unaware, of its existence. He gave instances of cases coming within Jbip !Q.wn practice, where patients had worked assiduously up to the moment of death. He gave one instance in which a man was actually singing a comic song at his work, at the 'tnomept his heart ceased to beat'. None of his' relatives had the least suspicion that he was ill in any way. In fact, tbd widow said “ he-had .never had k day’s’illness in his life.” This man, hoWever, had complained of severe pains in his right arm, which is sometimes a symptom of organic disease ot the heart, and he had the typically bluish complexion of the “ heart ’,’ subject. Another medical man who was next said that in his experience <he. had known apparently robust men to be stricken down with fearful suddenness—“men who could do their whack with the very best navvies, and who were jovial, high-spirited chaps”—to use the doctor’s own words. The doctor also said that some phases of heart trouble were very difficult of diagnosis, and even a careful medico had been known to pass a man for life insurance, who had subsequently dropped. He further remarked persons of extremely weak heart might successfully come -through an operation under anaesthetics, while a person whose heart showed” normality might ” beat the doctor.” A third doctor, who is a great advocate of reasonable physical culture,, said thap heart disease was commoner among those men who had in youth been great athletes. It often happened that athletes put tremendous strain on their hearts, a strain nature never intended. Athletes usually suddenly gave up taking exercise, and most invariably became fat. Although fatness was no indication of heart weakness, it frequently happened that fatty pressure on the heart was the cause of sudden death. There might be no outstanding symptoms which the patient would be alarmed ati : ■

A fourth doctor said that very many patients came to him fearful that they had contracted heart trouble, who were quite normal Fretting might cause heartdisease, and the people who believed they had this complaint were usually suffering from dyspepsia or some more or less simple trouble. He warned people whose hearts fluttered not to rush to the conclusion that they had heart disease.

A diet of fruit, fresh air, open windows night and day, and plenty of walking would restore their “ hearts ” —which frequently meant their livers; drugs nearly always failed. Frequently in heart trouble the patient’s arm swelled and there was dull pain in those members. But this might be also due to a gouty, tendency or other rheumatic trouble. Many heart patients have a worried, anxious look. So have many dyspeptics. The eye of a person afflicted with heart trouble was a useful indicator, people ot advancing age often showing a whitish ring round the iris. Still another medico said that he himself had been scared by a fear of heart disease, which a long holiday and “ the simple life” drove away. He had known cases in which people with normal hearts had dropped dead, by suddenly forcing the heart to do extraordinary work. He believed that most of the cases of sudden death were due to self-ill-treatment, too much work either at business or play, and too little naturalness of living. He said he, knew of cases in which infants possessed diseased hearts, but- who had grown to early manhood before being seriously inconvenienced. ; .He held strongly that the constant drinking of stimulants might be a contributing cause to the overtaxing of the heart and the death of a patient. He also condemned inordinate smoking as being extremely injurious. He believed that many men owed the loss of their lives to tobacco, and said that where persons wilfully aggravated the organ by unnatural habits the symptoms were often distressing, but would frequently cease with the abandonment of the habits. This doctor was also of the opinion that the great majority of people who believed they had heart disease had nothing of the kind. Some indigestible pastry, “a night out with the boys,” great mental strain, and so on, might produce symptoms that would scare anybody. A peculiarity was that persons who might die at any minute, happily enough had no notion that anything ailed them, and he believed Proivdence could be seen in this. The more agonising qffections of the heart (angina pectoris, etc.)were exceptions, and the person afflicted with them not only knew he might die at any moment, but frequently desired to, a state of 'feeling in comparison with which that of the ordinary person doomed to sudden death was happiness.

Behnmatism can be cured then—why will you continue to suffer. Kiieumo has effected wonderful cures for others after all else had failed. It will cure you Try it.- i Mr Thomas Sneddon, Family Grocer, Mornington, Dunedin, N.Z., writes regarding Chamberlain’s Cough Remedy : —“ My little grandchild was very bad with croup, and we had tried nparly everything we ever heard of, but with no result. We secured a bottle of Chamberlain’s Cough Remedy and gave it to him according to directions. It only took a couple of doses to cause all the phlegm to come away and soon he was out of danger. I really think,” he adds, “ that Chamberlain’s Cough Remedy is the best remedy sold for children.” For sale at Gardner & Whibley's, Grocers. Why suffer the awful agony of rheumatism, gout, lumbago, sciatica, and kindred diseases. Rheumo if given a fair trial will quickly cure you. Sold at 2/6 and 4/6. . j Mrs Hamer, ot the Economic, has just received a beautiful assortment of runners, cushion covers, fancy table cloths, brush and comb bags, etc., etc., which she bought at exceptionally low prices, beingSa»lot of travellers’ samples. The sante are being shown in window.*

The man who sells the ■ Same old goods in the’ same-old way, very same man who, some fine day, Will find that his business does not pay. And that his trade will go, day by day, To the man who sells the same old goods in the brand new way. * -WOLFE’S SCHNAPPS is absolately pure ; a pleasant tonie-beverage. For continuation of Reading Matter see page 4.