New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1925-11-17
Your Health
How TO Keep It
Causes of Illness
CBY DIR. HUGH $. CUMMINCD
Surgeon General, L. S, Fuh"
Health Service
Epilepsy. or FILLING Nlckness.

Health Service
Epilepsy, or falling sickness, we
was one time called. is a chrome
nervous disorder cAaracteri2p1 .
and ios3 .. consci ,'r.
ness. The manifestations Of the a.
sease have usually been clusgi'"i
according to their severity.
There are three well marked Nar,-
cites Of the opileptic seizure ami .
these have been applied the terms
grand NAL, petit NAL. and psychic
epilepsy. Any Of these may oM~
alone but 1t sometimes happens
that grand NAL and petit NAL may
be found to exist in the same indi-
Vidual. Grand NAL, If not the NOR
common, is at least that which at
tracts the most attention. being
what is generally known as an cpl
leptic fit.
Although in most instances suul
an attack comes on suddenly, il IS
in some cases preceded by indic3-
tons or warnings, often varied in
character; a temporary change IN
for example, an unusuaI
or elevation Of spirits or
some change in the appearance.
T e seizure itself is usually pre-
coded by loud scream or cry. This
cry or scream is due to the conVUl-
siVe action OF the muscles Of Ia"
larynX and the expulsion OF a
column of air and IS not due, as
vas one time supposed, 10 terror or
pain.
If a patient is standing he i'm
mediately falls and may sustain
grave injury. Unconsciousness my
be complete and the muscles gen
orally are In a state of great still
ness. The head is turned by a seriC4
Of jerks toward one of the shouI-
ders. The breathing is arrested for At
moment, the face grows first POI,
then liVid, the pupils of the eyes d.
late and the pulse becomes rapid.
This first stage Of the seiZur"
generally lasts for about half min
ute and is followed by spasm Of the
muscles in which the whole body =
drawn into violent agitation. Tho
eyes roll, the teeth are CRASHED to-
gether, the tongue and cheek arc
often severely bitten. The breath
ing Is noisy and foam, sometimes
tinged with blood from the biting o.
the tongue issues from the mouth.
This stage lasts for a period vary
ing from a few seconds TO severe
minutes, when the conclusive NOV
ments gradually subside and tho
muscles relax. There is partial r.
turn to consciousness.
This stage is soon followed D.,
drowsiness and stupor which may
continue for several hours. When
the patient awakes he may be an-
parently recovered or fatgu"l AMI
Sometimes he may be in
a state OF excitement.
Epileptic fits of this sort succeed
each other with varying degrees ..
frequency and occasionally, but not
frequently, at regular periods.
In the treatment of epilepsy, no
general rules can be laid down. Tho
mere administration Of some recon-
mended drug, including bromdcs.
without studying the indications for
its use will do no good but wit
harm the patient
AS a general plan Of treatment an
effort should be made 10 maintain
a condition Of stable blood circu-
lation 50 that the blood pressur
upon the brain shall not undergo
sudden. rapid or great changes. For
this reason heart stimulants and s.
datives form an important part q,
the treatment and these may be
combined with remedies having
specific effects upon the nerves.
In no case should a patient sub
ject to epilepsy undertake to treat
himself.
In most cases OF epilepsy II is OF
first importance TO ascertain the
length OF the interval between at
lacks, the time Of the day such at
tacks occur and the patients con-
dition. AS a rule, diets and meas
ures which are designed to secure
the drainage Of the intestines and
the prevention Of intoxication arc
important considerations In the
treatment of epilepsy.
IL a
tent suffering from epilepsy should
be placed In comfortable and
quiet country environment, prefer
ably removed from his family. The
attempt should be made to make the
epileptic a new individual and at the
same time always to keep him IN
der surroundings where he can be-
properly cared for in case a seizure
occurs.
The colonization Of epileptics has
now been under way in this country
for a sufficient number Of years to
prove that 1t is a very hunanc and
wise provision for the many suffer-
ers from epilepsy who are not able,
because OF poverty, to provide snch
care and treatment for themselves.
Medical treatment OF epilepsy can,
OF course, only be briefly alluded 10
here. You should know that during
fit Of epilpsey little can be done
beyond preventing, as far as posi-
BILE, the patient from injuring him
self while he is In an unconscious
condition. Tight clothing should be
loosened and a cork or pad should
be inserted between the teeth. When
the seizure is of long duration cold
water may be dashed upon the face
and chest.
In general, however, the At ter
inmates without the necessity of re-
sorting TO this measure. Once the
seizure is over the patient should be
allowed to sleep. You should be
sure in such cases that the head
and shoulders OF the patient are well
raised.
Advertised cures for epilepsy