The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1905-09-05
HIGH COLLARS.
Pressure Of the Wearing Apparel
Causes Many Diseases.
Literary Digest.

the pneumOgaStrlc, or Vagus, nerve to
such a degree as to cause serious
symptoms such as the loss OF
strength, neuralgia pains, nausea and
even anestnesia, is the belief of Dr.
F. 3. Brubaker, as stated in the
Medical Mirror (St. Louis). People
who habitually wear high collars
without experiencing any OF these i'll
effects may be surprised to learn the
harm that this seemingly innocent
article OF haberdashery can wreck.
Says DR.. Brubaker:
1T is a noteworthy fact that all the
more important vital structures Of
the body are safeguarded from injury,
encased within the bony walls or hid
den under layers OF muscles.
The important functions Of the
pneumogastric nerve render it neces-
.ary that in its passage through the
neck it should be protected from in
jury. We therefore find it enclosed
within the same sheath as the carotid
artery and placed between the artery
and internal jugular vein, lying pos
terror to both. By this provision the
nerve is placed between fluid on eth
er side, this arrangement providing
a degree Of elasticity uncommon in
nerve protection.
"The effect of compression on struc-
lures in this locality was shown to
the ancient writers on medicine, ut
the phenomena observed were ascrib-
ed to the artery rather than the
nerve. For instance, it was noted
then, as now, that pressure on this
part of the neck was followed by a
sensation Of want Of air, by deep
and laborious breathing, rapid heart
primarily, to be afterward retarded
with s-4netimes sense of sinking
over the precardial region. Continu-
ing the pressure occasions a deep
seated benumbing sensation in the
head, as if one were about to lose
consciousness. Gastric symptoms,
amounting to nausea, ETC., even yom
iting, may arise with lasitude, Ian
guor, lowness of spirits and want OF
repose, remaining for an hour or TWO
then gradually wearing away. 1t
will thus be seen that pressure over
thee arotid artery in the neck is fol-
lowed by various symptoms"
After describing several cases in
which these and similar symptoms
seem to have been caused by wearing
high, close fitting collars, Dr.. Bru-
baker reminds his readers that they
also accompany many diseases, such
as those OF the lungs, in which disin-
tegration of the pneumogastric nerve
is feature, and he asserts that we
are warranted in believing that irri-
tation due to prolonged pressure
may act in a similar way. He goes
on to say:
"Believing that collars extremely
high and tight might become an eN-
citing cause Of irritation to this i'm
portant nerve in certain cases, and
being stimulated 10 further research
along this line by the experience OF
my patient, whose difficulty was un-
doubtedly caused by continuous pres
sure upon this nerve by his collar,
I believe it to be the cause OF al
least transitorv symptoms in such
people as bookkeeperS, writers, pro-
iessional men and Others whose vari-
Gus callings require constant STOPPING
and bending OF the neck.
1t is not necessary to suppose in
support Of our argument that irri-
ta,ion or pressure must be direct
and immediate upon the pneumogas
trio, the nerves supplying the inte-
gument Of the neck and the overly
ing skin being at least simply sup
piled by nervous energy, which COM
municates with the pneumogastric.
All irritation and all pressure, there
fore, when OF sufficient degree, must
become reflected thereon to the det-
riment Of the sufferer