New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-04-29
1T Is WRITER'S CRAMP.
A PAINFUL AILMEHT WHICH IS GROWING
YOUR FINGERS oUIvER THERE Is PAIN IN THE
SHOULDER AND THE Pen DROPS
From YOUR HAND.

YOUR FINGERS oUIvER THERE Is PAIN IN THE
SHOULDER AND THE rES DROPS
FROM YOUR HAND.
} There IS one deficiency which IS common 70 n
cre1t many persons and which causes untold suffer-
ings that might be arrested n not entirely prevent
Cd in the Arst instance 10y nttc udicous study Of
the ordinary precautions To- l. observed in the
/ everyday life Of the average fInn. Tho deficiency
IS a eafure 10 inquire into and find out the cause
when anything abnormal appears TO interrupt :he
calm flow Of ordinary health to DUH those facu-
ties whose unimparcd condition IS the surcst guar
antee Of a long life and pleasant one.
There is what ,s known as writer's cramp and
this seems to be entirely ignored by the medical
fraternity In fact they can't cure 1t. Their treat
nent Of this disease which they scarcely recognize
as disease. IS experimental rather than exact
Writer'S cramp is called pen paralysis sometimes,
and is one OF the uglicst and most provoking HIS
bv which n busy man can be besct Having con-
WINGED the average doctor after some argument
that you are really unable to handle pen or pen
ell properly you will find II impossible to convince
a layman. for the general verdict will be that YOU
shamming person afflicted with writer's
cramp shows appearance Of nl-hcalth. and his
hand IS good for almost anything except the one
thing of writing. 1t may have gone on a long time
before you begin to realize what Is the matter
and this you can only find ont from one who
has made especial study Of nervous diseases: for
pen paralysis belongs In this category. When the
doctor orders the patient to apply electricity and
gives instructions IN the way that he would give
them II he prescribing for sick headache
you may know at that he understands as
much about the subject cow docs about d
double breasted frock coat.
A MEDICAL PAPER on THE SUBJECT.
In an article which appeared some years ago in
'"The Medical Record" interesting description OF
the effects OF this serious and growing malady was
given According to this "thc inability OF the hand
write and. In more extended sense. To perform
the finer mechanical movements required in knit
ting piano and violin playing. sewing. painting,
tcegraphng. etc. has been looked upon by physi-
clans partly as perphcral. partly as a central
affection. and has hitherto been regarded an I'M
solved problem. II sets In by almost impcrceptbly
manifcstng itself first in slight singing and occa-
sional ancnatng pain I'm the hand. by degrees the
pain becomes noticeable IN the wrist in the arm.
in the region OF the shoulder. and not rarely 1t eN-
tends toward the back. At this time the patient
becomes conscious Of an increasing sense OF weak
ness in the hand. which is felt especially hy tn"
fingers when used in writing. they begin 10 con-
tract. the cgibhty OF the writing diminishos. and
at length the patient either can no longer write 1T
all. or Mt most can barely scrlbhc the table with
the greatest difficulty and fatigue Corresponding
TO the involuntary opposition movements. there mp
pear on the paper uniut'utonal hooks. at times
quite amusing lotchcs ~ ink. AMI all sorts ~
strokes disGguriug the Handwriting. At last the
fingers not only refuse g. write. bat are unable to
perform all the finger motions. such as winding
watch. knitting sowing. etc ANY other work can
be done without difficulty hut as soon as 3D." Icn
or tn. needle is a-lin grasp.l in tho fingers the
coufracffons rccrr
Tho ,yrtf.r u.pe rrerer- some months ago I'm n
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