The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1942-01-14

Today ! wish TO speak Of its
twin, the nervous form of rheu-
matte fever which is called chorea,
or St. Vitus dance.
Probably the two diseases are
caused by the same germ in acute
articular rheumatism in which
first symptoms manifest them
selves in the joints. In chorea the
first symptoms show themselves in
the nervous system.
st. Vitus was a saint Of the
middle ages who was recognized aG
having a particularly great power
in curing the epidemic hysteria Of
the middle ages which was called
the Dancing Mania. His name be-
came attached to this inhamms-
tory disease ofthe nervous system,
although today what we call st.
Nitus Dance has nothing 10 do
with the hysterical dancing mania
Of the middle ages.
Symptoms Of Chorea
The symptoms Of chorea as seen
in a child are a complete incoor-
dination of the muscles and the
inability to make coordinated
movements. The nervous system,
which is the seat of the infection,
is so irritable that IL sends out
messages to the muscles which
cause them to jerk and writhe so
that the poor child makes grim
aces and jerky movements and
continually jerks his hands and
feet.
When he starts TO make any
simple movement, such as putting
food into his mouth, he may fail
entirely to accomplish his objec-
tive, and at the best can accom-
plish any movement only by
series of very roundabout and
jerky movements.
Chorea is associated with
slight fever. and in spite Of its
very different manifestations, it
has the same potential dangers TO
the heart as acute rheumatic
fever. In treatment, of recent
years we have had a great i'm
provement by inducing a high
fever-the so-called hyperpyrexia
treatment.
The natients are nut in cabi-
net, the temperature raised TO 1867
or 1917 F. with consequent short
ening of the period of acute nerv-
Gus symptoms and also reduction
in the amount of complications af-
fecting the heart
Use of Typhoid Vaccine
A variation of the fever treat
ment is the use Of typhoid vaccine.
This, of course, creates an artifi-
cial temperature and can be given
once or twice daily, enough to keep
the fever up until all signs of
nervous irritation disappear.
Infected teeth and infected ton
sils should be removed after the
stage of convalescence has set in.
Otherwise nothing else is espe-
cially important except, as in the
case of acute rheumatic fever, to
enjoin rest for period Of at least
six weeks in order to prevent, as
far as possible. all complications.
Although not quite so likely to
cause heart complications as rheu-
matte fever with joint involve
ment, still the induction of a pro-
longed convalescence and rest is
just as important in one condition
as the other. 1t is perhaps easier
to persuade the child with chorea
to rest because the speech dis
turbances and incoordinated mus
cular movements preve him
from joining his playmates. AS in
rheumatic fever, most patients are
under fifteen years of age.
II case Of chorea occurs in the
neighborhood. don't think all the
other children have caught it just
because they indulge in mimicry.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
NJ. W.:-"Can ulcer of the
stomach be cured? What treat
ment would you prescribe?"
Answer: Ulcer of the stomach
can be cured in most cases, al
though it is quite a chronic
disease. | would recommend diet
in which sweet, sour and spiced
foods are eliminated. The best
food for you is lean, broiled meat
Fats, but not fried foods, are well
tolerated. Always have your
bread toasted. In the way Of medi.
cine, would recommend sodium
bicarbonate and other alkaline
substances.
its experts are seriously confuse
L. a.