290 PLAIN FACTS FOR OLD AND YOUNG 



symptoms by any other known cause, as overwork, 

 mental anxiety, or dyspepsia. 



30. Acne, or pimples on the face, is also among the 

 suspicious signs, especially when it appears upon the 

 forehead as well as upon other portions of the face. 

 Occasional pimples upon the chin are very common in 

 both sexes at puberty and for a few years afterward, 

 but are without significance, except that the blood may 

 be somewhat gross from unwholesome diet or lack of 

 exercise. 



31. Biting the finger nails is a practice very com- 

 mon in girls addicted to this vice. In such persons 

 there will also be found, not infrequently, slight sore- 

 ness or ulceration at the roots of the nails, and warts, 

 one or more, upon one or both the first two fingers of 

 the hand, usually the right. 



32. The eyes often betray much. If, in addition to 

 want of luster and natural brilliancy, they are sunken, 

 present red edges, are somewhat sore, perhaps, and are 

 surrounded by a dark ring, the patient, especially if a 

 child, should be suspected and carefully watched. It 

 should be observed, however, that dyspepsia, debility 

 from any cause, and especially loss of sleep will pro- 

 duce some or all of these signs, and no one should be 

 accused of the vice upon the evidence of these indica- 

 tions alone ; neither could he be justly suspected so long 

 as his symptoms could be accounted for by legitimate 

 causes. 



33. A habitually moist, cold hand is a suspicious 

 circumstance in a young person who is not known to be 

 suffering from some constitutional disease. 



34. Palpitation of the heart, frequently occurring, 

 denotes a condition of nervous disturbance which has 



