South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-08-18

~ NE Of the most interesting and I'm
| Portant methods Of treatment In
~ Sciences never-epding struggle TO
cure disease and save human life is that
of puncturing the spinal canal with
hypodernic needle. Attached to this
needle on the outside Is a syringe through
which a quantity OF the fluid which fills
the spinal column can be extracted Tor
analysis and study. BY similar method,
il desired, serumS and other curative
agents may be injected into the spine
where they can act directly on the spinal
fluid.
This treatment is one of the most dar-
ing attempted by medical science for few
parts of the human body are more deli
cate. sensitive and complicated than the
spine. AS every body knows very
slight injury to the spinal column is LA
BILE TO cause death or at least TO cripple
one for life.
Yet when administered by a skilful
physician it involves less risk than one
would imagine. A bad headache is usu-
ally the only serious effect felt from
a successful puncture Of the canal and
withdrawal of a small quantity OF the
fluid. To prevent this and to help the
changed quantity of the spinal huid TO
regain its equilibrium some physicians
recommend making the patient lie down
for few hours after the operation with
the head considerably lower than the
hips
OF course. the injection OF drugs or
serums into the spinal canal is a more
serious matter and neither this or mere
puncture OF the spinal canal should be
Entrusted TO any but the most skilful
and experienced physician
What is known as the intraspinal
treatment was introduced less than fif-
teen years ago, and II has been developing
with wonderful strides. The latest dis
ease to be combated by this method is
infantile paralysis. or. as II 10 known TO
science poliomyelitis. This is the dis
ease which has been epidemic in New
York City. claiming hundreds OF victims.
II was not until this epidemic that any
great scientific thought was given TO the
value OF the intraspinal treatment In In
fantile paralysis.
We know to-day that the germ which
causes infantile paralysis is present IN
a virus which gains access TO the human
body particularly OF children from two TO
fourteen years OF age, through the mucous
membranes OF the nose and the throat.
from mere IL pTOttcus dAouS TIC OCAANoNS
Emphatic channels az the base OF the
brain. travels backward and downward
until Il reaches the spinal cord.
In the tissues OF the delicate spinal
cord t-ere are certain food chemicals
that the germ selects as its particular and
peculiar habitat Once lodged in these
delicate spinal structures an inhamma-
ton is set up. and the child who goes 20
bed al night in perfectly healthy condi-
ton suddenly wakes in the morning with
one arm and one leg. OF both arms and
both legs totally paralyzed.
AS result OF this Inflammation certain
chemical changes occur IN the fluid CO
the spinal canal This canal surrounds
the cord. and acts as a protecting layer
between IL a1d the bony structure OF the
spinal vertebrae. BY the use OF the
syringe needle. the chemical composition
OF the spinal fluid can be accurately as
certained. and here Is the way that the
doctor proceeds.
4 horizontal line is drawn around the
patients waist both in front AID IN back