The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1942-02-04

1.-THE colon is the large intestine)
is probably better term.
Mucous colitis has a much mar
rover meaning and applies to a
special group Of cases Of unstable
colon and periodic attacks of mu-
cous diarrho1a, alternating with
constipation. There is always a
sense of fullness or tightness, if
not actually cramping in the alb
domen. Tension headache" is
common.
1t is a fairly common disease,
certainly a troublesome disease
hardly a mail comes TO me without
three or four letters asking for
advice on this subject. The condi-
ton is often mistreated. IL is prob
ably responsible for the removal
of more undiseased appendices
than any other one cause.-the
cramps are over the appendix
region in rs per cent Of cases. II
may result in chronic invalidism.
Most of the sufferers are victims
Of the cathartic habit. 1t accom-
panies many Of the states of emo
tional tension encountered in daily
life.
Nervous Tension
Emotional tension - nervous
tension-that is the first impress
sion the patient with mucous coli
tbs gives. This ha. suggested to
two Boston physicians a study Of
the physiological and emotional re-
action of their patients.
1t is disease Of early adult life
the average age of onset is
twenty-three years. Examining
the patient, the colon can often be
felt through the abdominal walls
as a tender, rubber-like tube. The
inside of the bowel shows great
engagement with dilated blood
vessels and the mucous membrane
covered with glairy mucous. The
X-ray examination shows small,
tense colon. When seen with an
electric lighted tube, the mucous
membrane is angry and red, but
with no liberation.
All this shows a reaction of
the vegetative nervous system.
Though it was once regarded as an
infection, a causative organism
has never been found. Every indi-
cation points to the idea that the
trouble is not in the bowel, but is
a general state Of the body-a
state Of tension of the nervous
system.
A careful psychological study
showed that in half the patients,
the attacks we're always precipi-
tated by some emotional upset
the breaking off of an engagement
in one case, disappointment in q
college career in another. Nearly
always these develop on the basis
of an unstabl" nervous system.
Anxiety states, either with real or
fancied bases, we're characteristic
of a quarter of the patients;
morbid Observation-Disclosures
affected another fourth.
1t is evident that treatment d.
rected at the colon alone is not
going to be successful. Everything
should be done to relieve irritation
of the colon. The cathartic habit
should be broken up-no matter
how much the patient thinks the
tension felt could be relieved by a
cathartic. it always makes it
worse. A smooth diet such as the
following is helpful.
net
Breakfast: Orange sections
corn flakes, poached egg. crisl
bacon, crabapple jelly, toast, but
ter, cream, weak tea or coffee.
Dinner: Cream Of potato soup
broiled hslibut steak, boiled pots
toes, spinach, jello - whippe'
cream, bread, butter, milk, weak
tea.
Supper: Cream Of mushroom
soup, grilled lamb chop ano
noodles, ice cream, plain cake,
bread. butter. milk, weak tea.
But the great feature in treat
nent is directed at adjustment o,
the nervous system to demands
and realities Of life. 1t seems queer
that a happy marriage can some
times cure constipation but it has
done so.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
NJ. B. s.: 1--WE have been eating
parsnips from our garden as 500
IS they are picked. was told that
they were poisonous by eating
them so soon. Is this true?"