Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-05-08
Dizziness
Sufferers
Given Hope
Intensive Stu dy Made
of Several Causes
BY DIR. LOGAN CLENDENING

BY DIR. LOGAN CLENDENING
MENIERES disease is a severe
lV1 form of dizziness or vertigo.
Many people write to me about
il every week.
am glad. therefore, to an
nounce some good news in a
discussion of the subject by DR..
Miles Atkinson of New York.
Doctor Atkinson says, very
sensibly in my opinion. that the
doctors have always been look
ing for a single cause which
suits all cases, when in his ex-
perience he has found that Me-
niere's disease has several causes,
two of them being quite definite.
One class of cases is undoubt-
eddy caused by something akin
10 the state of allergy. The
attacks are paroxysmal.
Enough cases have now ac-
cumulated where the patients
have been proved TO be sem
sitive to something such as milk
or wheat TO allow us to say
quite definitely that allergy is
the essential factor in these
cases.
A test which has proved valu-
able in recognizing this group of
cases is the histamine skin test.
This has to be applied by a
doctor, but the principles of 1t
are simple enough.
THERE is a great deal OF evil
l. dence 10 show that with at
lacks of allergy, such as hay
fever, asthma or hives, there IL
released in the body a substance
known as histamine.
II is therefore possible to test
a patient with Meniere's disease
10 see whether or not he II
sensitive TO histamine.
A small amount of histamine
is injected into the skin and in
many instances produces not
only a wheal at the local site OF
injection. but also induces an
attack of vertigo.
When this has been proved to
be true of any patient, he is
then put on an elimination diet
10 see what food substances he
is sensitive TO.
This has proved OF great value
in treating the allergie group OF
cases.
There is another larger group
of patients with Meniere'c dis
ease in which the attacks OF
vertigo are probably due to con-
striction of the arteries In the
internal ear-in the organ OF
equilibrium.
This second group OF patients
is likely 10 be elderly people. at
least over so years old, and
constitute a good deal larger
group than the allergic group.
THERE Is no reason why the
Il arteries in the organ OF
equilibrium should not undergo
construction just as much as the
arteries of the heart undergo
construction TO produce angina
pectoris in the same age group
Of patients.
1t has been found that treat
ment directed toward relieving
spasm OF the arteries will re-
lieve attacks OF Meniere's dis
ease. such as the use OF amyl
nitrate pearls, nitrogylcerine and
other dilating agents.
These Investigations give q
much more cheerful view TO the
outlook for. the patient with
Meniere'S disease than previously
has been held
Many surgeons have ex-
pressed bluntly the view that
the only thing to do with Me-
niere's disease is to perform an
operation and cut the auditory
nerve. which, although il relieves
the attacks of vertigo, leaves
the patient deaf.
There are. of course. some
cases of Meniere's disease which
become so severe and continuous
as to make this prospect accept
able, but most of them are
milder and il is to be hoped that
the application of these ideas Of
groups caused by allergy or
vaso-constriction will lead TO re-
lief without the employment OF
such drastic means.
QUESTIONS. ANSWERS
II. S.-What causes cracking
Of toes. knees and sometimes the
jaw when eating? Could this be
from a lack of vitamins
Answer - Some people are
subject 10 these easily dislocated
and rough joints. 1t does not
appear TO mean anything serious
and is certainly not due TO a
lack of vitaminS.