The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1890-05-15
Epilepsy Or Fits.

In answer to many inquiries what
is Epilepsy" we give below a statement
of the a.fiiction taken from standard
authority.
Epilepsy, a form of disease charac-
terised by sudd n iDsensibility, with
convulsive movements of the voluntary
muscles, enthusiastically arrest OF the
breathing, ewing to spasm of the mus
cles of respiration, and temporary clo-
sure of the glottis. E. was called 5y
the ancient CIR, ets the sacred dis
ease" The idea Of the specially su-
pernatnral character OF E. is shown
forth in the deeply>rooted oriental no
ton OF demoniac possession. The pa
tient is si d with insensibility, often
so comuiete and sudden rs to lead to
serious accidents and bodily injuries;
in the most aggravated cases, he has no
premonitory sensations whatever, but
falls down without any attempt to save
himself, and usually with wild mar
ticulate cry of some kind Immediately
after which tie lace is violently distor-
ted, the head drawn toward one or other
shoulder, and the whole body convuls-
ed. These convultions follow in rapid
succession for a few minutes, and are
attended by foaming at the mouth, and
by great lividity. or, in some cases, hvid
palor, with irregular spasmodic move
ments OF the lips, nosirils, and eyes,
TIE m ediate danger is not great, ex-
cepiag that the sudden attack may
lead to an injurious CIR fatal fall; the
tongue, however may be bitten IT oro-
truded during the convnlsion, or the
pa .ient may be so placed as to injure
himself seriously by the repeated and
unconscious movements Of his body,
or he may suffocate himself by acci'
dentaIly falling with his face in water,
or otherwise closing up the mouth and
nostrils, or by dragging upon tight
ened necktie. Care should be taken by
keeping the epilectic as much as posi-
! ble within view of persons acquainted
with his condition, But when an un>
skilled person happens to witness mt
of D.. he will do well to remember that
beyond the precautions mentioned a
hove there is literally nothing to be
d one; and any attempt TO rouse the pa
t;ent by violent stimuli, as ammonia
appl;ed to the nostrils. or by dashIng
water in the face. or, still more, by ad-
minis,er;ng medicines. is almost Ger
tain to do more harm than good; The
tongue should be looked to, piece OF
cotk or o,he gag being. 1t necessary
inserted between The teeth; the paiisnt
should be then placed on u mattress or
o,he soft place near the gronad;, his
nerkclo,h should be removed. and the
dress loosened round the chest: the
head should be, if possible, little
raised, and free circulation OF AIR
maintained. The sensations which pre-
cede the fit in some epileptlcs have
beep termed ID Latin the aura II. e..
breath) epileptica, from their supposed
resem blances to q current OF colo ar
passing over the body, and proceeding
from the extremities toward the head
1t must be mentioned, however: as
bearing on treatment. that some OF the
mos ancient authorities assert strong
Iy the power OF tight bandage, placed
sud denly upon the limb in which the
aura begins, to cut short, or even to
preyent altogether, the irst Fl of b.
l, maintained that such a bandage,
placed exper. mentally upon one or
O her of the limbs, and frightened on
the approach of iit, has been found
e Tective in some cases in which there
was no distin ty local sensation; ard
epilep.ics have been repeatedly con
vinced of the propriety o. haoitua'Iy
wearing bandage l"osly applied upon
the arm, which they have been able. ny
carefully watching their own sensa-
tons, and by being watched in turh
by others, to get frightened a. the prop
er time. -
The most frequent, perhaps, OF all
the more serious consequences or con
firmeu L. is insanity. Sometimes the
developments of the epleptic insanity
is attended by palsy. Verv often there
i, loss of memory and a certain want
oc acateness and depression OF spirits
which untit the individual for the regu
lar business Of lie. Disorders OF the
digestion are also not uncommon; AID
there is frequently a want OF tone ana
viror in all the bodily iun notions, which
ccmm :. picates habi!ual expression OF
lansuor and reserve to the epiieptlc.
The causes and radical cure OF e. are
aim Jst equally involve d in mystery. 1t
has been supposed by some TO be de
pendent on an increase affiuX OK blood
to the brain; white by other observers
it has been attributed to precisely the
opposite condition With regard to
treatment, almost every kind has been
tried. and each has been found equally
unavailng. The external application
OF cold to lhe spine and head, as aovo
Gated in various forms OF disease by
DR.. Chapman, deserves TRIAL. Inc
treatment of the disease should, in gen
e al terms. be of the kind termed Tonic,
Acco cdlng to one Of the oldest and
most resp pscted OF American physicians
ID. jackson of Boston,) the epileptlc
tendency may often be successfully
treated by the systematic use OF an
exclusively vegetable diet. Some OF
the lower animals are subject to epiiep
tic frs. The disease is common IN
dogs and highly bred pigs.