The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-08-27

clans, and has as its object TO keep
the public informed about the
progress on epilepsy and related
diseases.
More than that, its object Is to
carry our modern knowledge Of
epilepsy to those who need it, 70
dispel the taboos and superstitions
which exist, and TO try TO teach
the people who have these peri
odical spells that they are not out
casts from society or mentally de-
ranged, and that there is nothing
TO be ashamed of in this condition
any more than there is in any
other ordinary disease.
In pursuance of this objective,
an extremely valuable expression
of the modern viewpoint on this
condition is contained in q book
called Science and Seizures by
DR.. William q. Lennox Of the Har-
ward Medical School Harper &
Bros, Paul B. Hoeber, 1941). This
book treats not only Of epilepsy
but also of migraine headaches
which are seizures Of a somewhat
related kind. Most Of the taboos
and popular ideas about these con-
ditions are fully discussed.
Samples: Epilepsy is not a men,
tai disease, but physical disease
1t is manifest by "disordered cleo
trio currents Of the brain"
Is Epilepsy Hereditary?
Is epilepsy hereditary? This Is
q frequent question which CORE
spcndents write to me. Statistical
studies show that not more than
twenty per cent of patients give =
history Of seizures in known rela-
tiyes. 1t will not do, however, to
minimize the possibility Of heredi-
tary epilepsy. If an epileptic has
four children, there is one chance
out Of ten that one Of these chill
dren will have seizures. If there
are two children, the chances are
one out of twenty. About one out
of twenty-six relatives of the aver
age patient has seizures.
Two great contributions have
recently been made to the study Of
epilepsy by Boston physicians.
One is machine which can record
the electric pulsations Of the brain.
These are picked up from the scalp
and made to write line. All peo-
pie subject to epilepsy produce q
pattern on this record. Different
types are also recorded by the in
strument. 1t pictures both danger
signals and progress.
The second discovery is the use
of dilantin TO prevent or minimize
the epileptic attacks.
There are many different kinds
of epilepsy and there are many
different causes for the seizures.
The most important thing for 4
person subject to seizures to know
is that great deal of help can be
given by the modern physician
with modern methods. There is
nothing to be ashamed of in the
condition and anyone who is sub
ject to it should consult a physi-
clan. The doctor can give him q
great deal Of help. Mental impair
ment may be the result Of frequent
seizures and when these are. prop
erly understood, the state Of mind
is improved.
A remarkable instance Is that
Of a twenty-three-year-old man
who had frequent seizures since
childhood. He never learned TO
read or write. With the admins
tration of the medicine, dilantin,
which stopped his seizures, the
man began to learn with great
rapidity and in the course of six
months, his mental age rose from
six years TO a level of ten years.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
G. H.: as the drinking Of but
termilk recommended on a reduc-
ing diet?"
Answer: Yes.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
E. S. NJ: as living in a three
room apartment doing justice TO
a small child? This question is of
interest to many married couples
with small child on limited
income. We have a bedroom, liv-
ing room, bath, and a good-sized
kitchen; also a back porch with
plenty Of sunshine. Our child
sleeps twelve hours every night
and two hours during the day,
but is the noise harmful TO her
even though she sleeps we'll? Ma
turally, we do not have any big
parties but she is conscious of low
talking when friends come in. We
cannot live in isolation and shun
our friends, but are we doing an
injustice TO herr"
Answer: 1t seems to me this
child is decidedly not under
privileged, and / am afraid you
are falling into the habit that
many mothers acquire of fussy
apprehension.
STRUCK BY TRAIN
Iron Dfvar AnD 81 Marian