Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-02-18
BY ]. II. KELLOGG, NJ. D., LII. d.

LNPlLEPSY--or as II Is usually called.
- 'hts"-begins In most cases in early
y'uth' before puberty, although II may
make It's appearance later on in life.
FITS are OF two kinds, differing for the
greater part in intensity one kind is
called petit NAL.
A victim OF this form of epilepsy usu.
ally. when the attack comes on. drCps
Whatever he liz saying or doing anc
Dccome2 F!s!d The eyes become fxed
pallor apreads over the face. Thu
handS release whatever they hold. The
victim is lest In Inconsistencies ano
usually falls TO the ground. without
however, undergoing the convulsive
seizure that attends the severer type
or epilepsy. CONSEQUENCES returns a.
suddenly as II left and the individual
VIII probably pick up the thread Of his
conversation where he left off or con-
tinuc where he left off the work in
which he was engaged
The second form Of epilepsy 81 celled
grand NAL. In an attack 'hC lead i'
first thrown back, or to the side. The
victim usually falls wherever he happei~
10 he. The muscles Of the jaw contract
and become rigid The hands close tight
and the legs straighten cut St'T, while
the muscles contract to such nu extent
that they interfere with breathing A.
first the face becomes pn!c. changing
shortly TO a dusky or livid hue In this
condition the victim remains for few
seconds only Presently the muscles begin
to contract and relax intermttently. As
the attack progresses the contraci!ons
become more rapid. so that the legs aud
arms Jerk and toss about violently. The
'yclids open and shut Convulsively and
the eyeballs roll from one side TO the
other
The teeth in most cases, grind to-
gcthcr, and as the muscles Of the jaw
contract, are likely to bite the tongue
severely. Where prompt attention Is
not given, the tongue Is even bitten
quite OFF. Any injury to the tongue or
cheeks causes the froth. which flows
from the mouth. TO become red, from the
blood which mixes with II. on this
account the case takes on a most fright
full and apparently serious aspect to the
onooker who is not familiar with cases
OF this kind. Tho bladder and bowels
may be emptied involuntarily.
The breathing, which has been labored
and noisy, now begin to be easier, al
though ii Is still noser than in normal
breathing. The face becomes less livid
The unconsciousness that accompanies
this condition is most profound. In
time It Is possible TO arouse the victim,
but at first II Is better to permit him
10 sleep for ,everal hours-when he will
! awaken Of his own accord, and without
feeling that anything unusual or dis
comforting has occurred. He may OBJ
serve a slight headache or confusion OF
| Ideas, but that Is about all.
The frst-aid step In taking care OF
these cases is to look to yourself. and
| force yourself TO keep cool Protect
the victim from injuring himself by hold
! ing him fast to the ground or on the
floor Place n bit of wood or cork or
some other substance between his teeth
10 prevent biting and injury to the
tongue and cheeks. It probably viii b'
| necessary TO have some one assist yol
in getting him under control DO moi
attempt to hold the arms or legs quiet
except as this may be necessary to pro
tect the victim from himself. The con
vulsions will abate of themselves, whei
he can be lifted to a bed and allowed
to rest until he awakens of his own &C
cord
In case YOU have not witnessed tn
case from the start and are no
sue of all the symptoms. have some on
relate these to you, so that you may b.
certain that it is epilepsy that the vic
tim Is suffering from The blood-staine
froth from the mouth, and the bittel
tongue will, however, be Of great as
sistance in determining the cause of un
consciousness.