The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-12-29
Medical Notes.

Of the many million people of the world
there are absolutely no two alike in form
and feature, yet twins often look so near
ly alike that even their own father and
mother cannot distinguish the one from
the other, and even persons unrelated to
each other may bear such a resemblance
as to appear related. Yet there is al
ways some popularity, natural or ac-
quired, by which identity may be estab-
lished and this subject will be discussed
in future article.
On tie contrary, there are many char
acters of disease that stamp their dis
tinctive SHgmata upon the face either
by a change of countenance or COM
plexion and knowledge of these may
forewarn the friends of a person and en-
able measures to be taken to prevent Sc
rious conditions from the development OF
the disease
The most common change of complex
ion is that known as the ford or rudy
face both words meaning red, but red
face which is taken as the mark OF Vlgor
and health is often a symptom OF dis
case. 1t often results from fulness OF
the small blood vessels of the face, indi-
eating that the body is too full of blood
q condition technically called plethora.
This is a state of danger, and the expe-
rienced physician sees a more or less dim
spectre OF apopleXy threatening the life
of such one. Usually such people are
of stout build and short-necked and high
livers; indeed, overindulgence in food ana
drink and a life of Incidence are the pro-
life causes of plethora and apopleXy
Such persons habitually suffer from
symptoms Of congestion of the brain,
such as headache, giddiness, confusion OF
thought and sleepiness. AS rule the
causes of this condition are those that
also lead to degeneration OF organs or
tissues, and it is only question OF time
ere the blood vessels of tbf brain can no
longer endure the strait \ of the high
blood pressure and burst, like piece OF
rotten hose pipe, flooding the brain itself
with blood which, finding no outlet. COM
presses the brain and causes death by
Shock as apopleXy is commonly called,
or as others say, by "stroke," because
this disease strikes one down as if by q
lightning stroke. Extreme redness of the
face is therefore, not a sign of health
or an omen Of long life; it is rather the
red flag of danger signalling down
brakes" and if tins signal is not needed
softening of the brain may ensue, with
lingering death, OF more sudden and dire
results may ensue Immediately.
There is another hue Of red known as
the "hectic flush" that marks the face
as that of one who is a victim of con-
sumption. In these there is usually a
fine skin, light or reddish hair, and
tendency to freckles. The eyes have their
white tinged with a blue or pearly tint,
whereas Ill the rudy complexion the
white of the eyes is usually traversed by
distended blood vessels, giving it red
dish tnge, marked here and there by a
pronounced streak. In the consumptive
this heightened color is deceptive and
illusory, since it leads the patient and
friends to believe that he or she is in
the best of health, but the color is not
persistent; 1t is heightened by excitement
and decreased by depressing influences;
vet it continues to add to beauty even to
the last step of the journey toward
deaths door.
Anything that increases the blood pres
sure in the brain may lead to Increased
redness OF the face. In high fever the
Increased activity of the heart leads to
such a condition, the blood circulating
TOO rapidly In pneumonia the color is
exaggerated on account of obstruction Oh
the blood vessels of the lungs, and IN
asthma it is due to the same cause and
TO disturbances of nerve Centers which
control circulation.
Pallor of the face is the opposite OF
plethora. Whiteness of the skin indicates
poverty of red blood and calls for a
course of iron, as medicine with plenty
of animal food, in preference to pies and
buildings of which such patients are fond.
1t calls for exercises, too, which pale
people are 10th to take, since they feel
so debilitated that they do not feel like
getting out of their own way The'r
blood is starved, and hence the blood
cannot feed the organs and tissues of
the body sufficiently well to keep them
in robust and vigorous working order.
mo also in POnSllInDtlOn,
but is almost invariably accompanied by
the hectic spot 'the spot which autumn
marks upon the faded Leaf" and there
is the muddy pallor of scrofula. with
emaciation of the features and body and
a tendency to humors and eruptions on
the face and body with characteristic
glandular swellings which occur sooner
or later. and brand the cause with its
true character.
Then there is a paIor that indicates
serious organic disease, probably of the
heart or kidneys, or both, say Bright s
disease, for kidneys and heart go hand
in hand in such cases, the one being
affected by the other. In these cases,
however, the glazed look and puftiness
under the eyes and evidences of dropsy
which first show in the feet are char
acteristic of the cause. And speaking OF
swollen feet it is quite common that the
first intimation of heart or kidney dis
ease is a feeling that ones shoes have
become too small for his feet, especial
" after he has worn them all day, q
symptom that gives him no mental I'M
easiness if he does not know the cause
but which may save him much oully
uneasiness and sickness if he realizes
what this apparent Shrinkage in shoe
leather means
A yelloWish tinge of the skin is usually
associated with biliousness, and often
truly so, but this Sauow complexion is
not a permanent one; it comes and goes
though it may be never clear, but al
ways muddy. Jaundice is only a more
marked form of biliousness, and the vel
low tinge of the flesh is more marked
and more permanent, while in both the
eye has it's white tinged with the same
yellowish hue In fact, changes of color
are always most prominently marked in
the white of the eye and may often
be noticed there ere they are noticeable
in the skin. There islsanother muddy
yellow ,tinge of the skin that cannot be
bleached out 50 readily as that cue tC
biliousness or iaundice; it is due to some
malignant disease, usually cancer but ii
is accompanied with an alteration OF
features that is characteristic. We say
the face is 'pinched," showing suffering
and poor nutrition. The features are
drawn together, and there is an express
sion of fear and anxiety. 1t is the face
of the starving man and the opium eater
Indigestion, too, dependent upon de-
pressed or exhausted nervous power i'm
prints its peculiar hue upon the face,
especially in dark rings underneath the
eyes. Whatever lowers or eXhausts the
nervous strength will cause this tell tale
color, which is especially noticeable
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