Evening star., 1942-08-01
Of Stors, Men
And Atoms
Notebook Of Science Progress
In Laboratory, Field
And Study
Bu Thomas f. Henry.

Schizophrenia, the mysterious split
constitutes by far the most serious
psychiatric problem In the United States
may be due to an hitherto unknown
factor in the blood which counteracts
insulin and prevents the normal burn
ing of sugar fuel of the body.
This is the conclusion of DR.. l.. J.
Medina of the Loyola University
medical school after extensive expert
ments both with schizophrenic patients
and with rabbits.
DR.. MEDINA is one of the worlds
foremost authorities on this malady.
While in Austria before the German
conquest he originated the shock treat
ment which consists of throwing a
schizophrenic into epileptic-like con-
vulsions with drug known as metrazol.
His new findings open way to
diagnosis and perhaps eventually new
form of treatment. Schizophrenia with
it's bizarre mental effects might be con-
sidered as the antitheSiS of diabetes.
The burning of sugar requires normal
hormone insulin. When this is reduced,
sugar piles up in the blood and diabetes
develops With most schizophrenics.
DR.. Medina and his associates have de-
monstrated, there is no deficiency of
insulin.
Yet, they found, when measured doses
Of blood sugar are injected into the
blood stream it takes the schizophrenlc
from two to eight times as long to get
rid of it as the normal person.
The conclusion of Dr. Medina and his
associates is that the schlzophrenlc
blood contains some anti-insulin factor
which Is almost entirely lacking in
others
The nature of the factor is entirely
unknown. But the rabbit test, the ex-
perimenters believe, may prove means
of differentiating at least one form OF
Observation-Disclosures is some evidence
that two or three different maladies are
now grouped under one name-from
other types of insanity. This will save
much waste effort in treatment.
The next steps will be attempts to
isolate the anti-insulin factor and find
some means of counteracting it.
4x+ XXX
A new treatment for persistent head
aches and dizziness. such as sometimes
follow even very mild brain conclusions
has been reported to the American
Medical Association.
1t is simply dosage with synthetic
drug, prostigmine, which dilates the
blood vessels of the brain.
The reasons for the headaches, esps-
cially, has been puzzle to nerve spe-
cialists. It Is we'll known that the brain
for the most part, is insensitive to pain
Except in few places it can be cut OF
irritated without arousing any sensation
Theories have been advanced, however
that some of the brain arteries carry
with them punches Of nerves which give
rise to feelings Of pain when stimulated
Now, 1t is reported to the American
Medical Association by DR., j. Y. Malone
of Milwaukee, there has been cumulative
evidence that even a mild conclusion
may cause far-reaching changes In the
balance between the dilating and con-
| stricting agents which act upon th'
| blood vessels. This results In alteration!
| of circulation in various localized brair
areas, which might well result in the
| headaches and dizziness.
| Acting upon this theory, he has treatee
several cases with doses of prostigmint
| over considerable periods. The primary
| effect of the drug is on the autonomi,
nervous system which controls the cir
| culation. The results, as stated in DR.
Malone's report, have been quite remark
able. The persistent or recurrent head
aches have disappeared.