Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-12-26
TRAINING IN EPILEPSY
By H. Addington Bruce

However medical men may disagree as re-
CARDS the nature and cause causes OF
epilepsy, the belief is growing among them
that in many cases an indispensable remedial
measure is mental training of special sort
Indeed there are not lacking physicians who
insist that all epileptics may be more or less
benefited by training having as it's object
a broadening of their interests and active
mental occupation.
Epileptics, the theory of these physicians
runs, suffer from morbid self-centeredness,
coupled with morbid sensitiveness. Their
convulsive attacks, loss of consciousness, ETC.,
are superinduced by emotional storms. To
these they would be less subject if habtuated
to busy themselves with tasks not making
undue demands on them and tasks in. which
they could be made genuinely interested.
Here and there, moreover, this theory has
already been put to the test of experiment,
sometimes on an extensive scale. To Judge
from published reports the results have been
most gratifying.
Thus we learn from DR.. C. A. Marsh, of
the Indiana Village for Epileptics, establish
ed for the purpose of giving treatment by
training:
"The wisdom of the undertaking is seen
in the Improvement Of patient after coming
here. Almost without exception every such
individual not only gains in physical health
by taking on weight, but makes decided men
tai improvement, with the result that his
seizures become less frequent.
MANY patients coming in shackles from
insane hospitals where they are considered
the most Objectionable and difficult to man
age of all patients there, are in a short time
peaceably at work at various tasks around
the farm"
And as testifying - the fact that the de
centralizing" of the thoughts of epileptics is
the thing that really counts for most in eff
fecting the improvement noted:
Our records show more seizures Sum
day than on any other day of the week
Every one recognizes that this is the longest
day of the week because of inactivity. Such
time affords an opportunity for worrying
about getting home, or just anything which
would have no place in mind exercised by
pleasant occupation"
Of course as Dr. Marsh and all who have
made trial of training in the treatment of
epileptics are frank to admit, much depends
on the age of the patient and the duration of
his epilepsy. The younger the patient and
the shorter the period of his epileptic seiz-
ures the greater the likelihood of his re-
spending to training.
The patients mental status also is a
factor TO De taken into account. Pat1entS OF
low grade mentality obviously cannot be ex-
pected to respond to training as others would
This if only because it is difficult to awaken
in them-by persuasion, suggestion, or any
other means-a desire for productive ac
tivity.
And the awakening of such desire, to-
gether with guiding it to appropriate express
sion, should ever be the prime object in the
training of epileptics. They must not be
forced to do things, they must be inspired to
want to do them. Then they will be lifted
out of the brooding, worrying, self-ptying
thoughts which so often seem to serve as di-
rect excitants Of their epleptic seizures.
Which means, it need scarcely be added,
that all undertaking the care of epieptics
should be abundantly blessed with patience
and with tact. Impotence and tactlessness
can only make a bad matter worse because
of the over-readiness of the epileptc to take
refuge in Inconsistencies when in situation
displeasing to him.
Copyright, 1929