The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-04-30

has grown TO call nearly any sort
Of pain which is along muscles or
nerve tracks "neuritis." The prop
er term for this, believe, is "neu-
ralgia."
Neuritis means something rath-
er specific in medical language. |
The first symptom of neuritis in
stead of being pain, is more likely !
to be numbness. True neuritis |
seldom affects one nerve. Usually |
there are number involved. The |
Grafton. The hands and feet are
most often affected. The patient |
commences TO have numb sensa-
tons in the toes, the soles and in |
the tips of the fingers. Sometimes |
"pins and needles" feeling, tin
Cling, and a deafness, as if the |
fingers and toes were covered with |
a rubber glove. "Ants crawling |
along the skin" is one of the ex-
pressions offered. The patient is
inclined TO rub the part because
he thinks the circulation is poor.
Later on there may be a certain
amount of loss of muscle power.
We have come TO understand q
good deal more about neuritis in
the last few years. 1t is seen in
alcoholic addicts, in lead workers,
and may be caused by constant ex-
posture in occupation to nearly any |
heavy metal. One particular form
occurs in pregnancy, where the
vomiting in the early months is
extreme.
Beri-Beri
Now, 1t has long been known
that there was a disease in the |
Orient called "beri-beri," which
consists mostly in a neuritis Of
this particular form and type but
until recently nobody associated
the two types together. The neu-
ritis of beri-beri is known to be
caused by dietary deficiency. 1t is
obvious, however, that in the case
of the alcoholic addict and in per-
nicious vomiting of pregnancy, or
prolonged vomiting Of any kind,
the individual is on dietary de-
ficiency.' The alcoholic does not eat
because he gets his calories out OF
his alcohol.
The specific dietary deficiency
which occurs in beri-beri is due to
lack of Vitamin b and it has been
found that in cases of neuritis, in
alcoholic addiction, or pregnancy,
the use Of Vitamin b will restore
things to normal within a very
short time. Lead poisoning and
exposure to the other heavy met
ais which results in neuritis is not
quite the same thing and is prob
ably due to direct attack of the
metal upon the nerve sheath.
A peculiar form of symptom in
neuritis Of this type is that the
patient is unable to make fine dis
ordinations in the realm of the
sense of feeling. Brush his. finger
tips with a camel's hair brush and
he feels nothing. Drop a coin in
his hand and he cannot tell |
whether it is a marble, or a knife,
or a coin, or what, but he retains
sensations which are painful.
Touch the same fnger-tips with a
test tube filled with very hot
water and he instinctively draws
the hands away. The explanation
is probably that the sensations Of
pain are more protective. They
are very old part Of the nervous
system and are destroyed only in
extremus.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
nc. Hi get up from three
TO six times every night to void
urine. Could you tell me something
about it and suggest proper treat
ment?"
Answer-This certainly indi-
Gates the necessity for an examin-
alton by doctor; at least an anal
ysis of the urine to see whether
there is any diabetes present, or
kidney or prostate disease.
Constant Reader:-"Please tell
me If it is safe for an old person
to take iodine inwardly for arth-
ritis. / have been told to take one
drop in water, add one drop each
day till | get up to ten drops, not
miss a day, for the relief Of arth-
ritis pain"
Answer-The dosage you men,
ton probably won't do any harm
but iodine is very tricky drug to
handle. II often causes wide
spread and severe skin eruptions
If taken in too large amounts. Be-
sides, it won't do your arthritis
any good.
". J. J.:-'Please tell me il a
drop of,honey dropped in the eye
will cure a cataract. l have been
dropping one drop in each eye
for about one week-not tried it
long enough 10 get results"
Answer-You can 20 on drop
ping honey in your eyes for ten
years and you won't get any re-
suits. Go to an oculist and get
some sound advice.
worse Job OF It than the Yer.
sailles treaty trainers and the
League Of Nations management
did.