The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1942-11-12

eH. aad then only through
his column.
ally. It is Of general interest only
because It Is in the nature Of q
curiosity.
The first rib in all properly con-
structed people arises from the
first thoracic, or chest, vertebra.
There are twelve ribs, one for
each of the thoracic vertebrate.
Below the thoracic vertebrae are
the lumbar vertebrate, and above
them are the ccrvical vertebrae,
or the vertebrae in the neck. Oc-
casionally, as an abnormal form
of development, a rib arises from
the last cervical vertebra, and
the person in whom this occurs has
thirteen vertebrae.
A ccrvical rib may cause symp-
toms by pressure on the large
nerve flexus which energies from
the spine at this point and sup
plies the arm, or from pressure
and dislocation Of a blood vessel
of which there are many also in
this region.
Case Histories
But the chances are that no
symptoms sufficient TO bother the
posscssor Of one of these curiosi-
ties viii ever arise, and then only
if the subject does some special
kind Of work or engages in an I'M
usual form Of muscular move
ment. One Of my patients noticed
it first when his father decided he
was old enough to go hunting. He
toted a gun on his shoulder all
day and this resulted in pain and
numbness in his arm, which was
easily associated with a cervical
rib.
Another took up violin lessons
at the behest, indeed the command
of his mother. His attraction to
the violin was nil, and it was only
because his mothers father had
been violinist that she insisted
on the lessons. As soon as he
started lessons, he began to have
a pain in the arm.
At first his mother naturally
thought he was taking, but just
to settle things she consented to
medical examination; the cervi-
cal rib was found and the mother
was hrmly persuaded her son
should not attempt the violin. l
believe that boy is the most CRATE
full patient l ever had. He cannot
even bear to hear violin played
nowadays, and though time has
passed, he sends me a Christmas
card every year, with violin
drawn thereon.
II will be seen from these two
case histories that the symptoms
Of cervical rib do not begin to
manifest themselves, if at all,
until adolescence.
Symptoms
Symptoms-when they do occur
can be divided into nervous or
circuiatory, depending on whether
the rib presses on or interferes
with the action Of nerves or blood
vessels. Among the nervous symp-
toms are dilated pupil on one side,
hoarscness due to pressure on the
laryngeal nerve, sweating Of the
face on one side, numbness, pain
or paralysis of the arm.
Tie circuiatory disturbances
are usually shown by the arm
flushing and getting painfully
congested when hanging down or
when hard work is done. Cold
weather also brings these symp-
toms on.
a cervical rib can be removed
surgically, but usually the symp-
toms are so slight that the patient
would rather stand them than
take the risk.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
II. s. B.:-Are watermelon and
cantaloupe harmful TO a diabetic?
Answer: No food in itself is
against or harmful to a disbetic-
only the amount Of starches taken
in. If your starch consumption
allows you a slice Of watermelon
or cantaloupe, they will do no
harm.
J. II. Cts it true that eat
ing coffee grounds or other small
things can cause appendicitis?
Answer: No, nothing that is
eaten causes appendicitis. About
the time OF the Chicago Worlds
Fair there was a belief that Crane
seeds caused appendicitis. This
rumor died soon after and | had
thduyhf II staved deed
TIN all depend on what's hap
pened.
Suppose F D gets a fourth
term. After that, then what?