Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 July 1893 — THE DEVIL WAGON. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE DEVIL WAGON.

A Collection Agency’s Means to Collect Bad Debts. Collection agencies are sometimes put to desperate straits to secure payments on bad debts, but the device of an organization in Nashville, Tenn., probably deserves the Arst prize. A black covered wagon, such as deliver groceries, is used. On the sides are painted pictures of His

Satanic Majesty in red and gold. That was all. But everyone knew that when the wagon stood in front of a man’s house or store the inmate hal secured a high plac*> in the agency’s “black book.® The other day a citizen ©reared the driver of one of these wagons to leave the front of his premises. Refusal followed; the irate citizen seized a conveniently loaded shotgun, and the driver spent the day picking small particles of lead out of bis anatomy.

Palpitation of the Heart. By palpitation of the heart is meant the sensation either of irregularity in heart action or of rapidity of heart-beats. The person who expei iences it is usually alarmed by the symptom, and calls in the doctor. But l a most cases of this sort which are brought to his attention, the physician finds nothing out of the way with the heart, and hence of danger to the individual. The cause of the sensation is elsewhere. In the majority of instances, the real trouble is indigestion. In almost all cases of actual heart disease, no intimation of it is transmitted to the patient by any irregularity or like sensation of heart rhythm. As a symptom, palpitation is valuable to the physician, in that it directs the attention qf the patient to the heart An unusual sensation in this region usually leads, one to consult his physician at once. Symptoms felt in other parts of the body usually wait for “the more convenient season. ” Dr. Austin Flint was once summoned to attend a young lady dying of heart disease. The family informed him that his presence was wanted merely to satisfy the lady’s friends, since they all understood the fatal nature of her malady. The patient lay in a room from which not only light but everything that might lead to the slightest nervous excitement was excluded. It was suggested to the Doctor that an examination of the chest be omit!ed, and that all communication with tho patient should take place through a friend, lest the exertion should result in immediate dissolution.

To this the Doctor objected. When admitted to her presence, he found that she answered his questions in whispered monotones. Examination of the chest showed that there was no disease, and consequently no danger. The story was told to illustrate the importance of thorough' examination before deciding on an opinion. Palpitation does, however, undoubtedly occur in cases of real diseases, and whenever it occurs its cause should be found out and remedied. Among the common causes of palpitation are to be numbered the excessive use of tobacco, tea, coffee, alcohol, or of certain drugs, hysteria, excessive exertion, hunger, privation, fatigue, fright, or loss of sleep, and excesses of any kind.— Youth’s Companion. j*

A DEVILED DEBTOR.