Epidemics. 235 



heavily bled, is now awakening a growing anxiety for the 

 future well-being of those who have suffered from heavy 

 depletions. 



'What does this teach? Not a new theory about blood- 

 letting altogether, but something of a wider and far more 

 general character. The general teaching of facts on a very 

 large scale tends to the inference that the heart is, in some 

 way or other, that organ of the body which, taken all in all, 

 is the one which is more below par in power and function in 

 the present epidemic period than that of any other organ in 

 particular. 



Many have long suggested that heart diseases are be- 

 coming much more frequent than in former times ; but as 

 to actual organic diseases it is very doubtful if such is really 

 the case. 



Perhaps dilatation is getting more frequent, especially of 

 the right side ; but for London especially it may be said 

 that the hurried rushing to railway stations, and the sudden 

 cessation of all muscular motion the moment after arrival, 

 has no inconsiderable amount of sin at its door, which will 

 account for one form of heart affection. So likewise the 

 increased leaning in London and many of our large towns to 

 build very high has a similar tendency, and is most felt 

 among certain classes of servants and lodgers. 



But our railways, our boat and pedestrian racing, our 

 stupid Alpine displays of courage and folly, have really 

 nothing to do with the stamp of an epidemic bias. Such 

 incidents would have an injurious effect in the long run in 

 any epidemic epoch, no matter what particular bias that 

 might take. Such incidents might be called accidental 

 endemic acts, inseparable from the circumstances under 

 which any community may chance to be living, and partake 

 of a mechanical bias rather than a vital or morbific state. 



Again, heart diseases appear to be more frequent by, 



