The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1942-04-20

questions OF general interest
only, and then only through
his column.
vestigstion and at least, defni-
ton. The words "fainting spell"
are often used as an euphemistic
expression for people who have
mild attacks of epilepsy or periods
Of Inconsistencies in the early
stage OF brain tumor and cerebral
srteriosclerosis.
A real fainting spell is fairly
simple thing TO understand. We
know when q patient faints that
the blood leaves the brain entire
ly, the blood pressure falls very
low and the heart stands entirely
still for . while. This may be
brought on by fatigue or emotion,
a too-long period without food or
at the beginning Of mild illness.
Careful Examination Necessary
Vertigo, or dizziness, and faint
Ing spells often go together. When
these occur either alone or to-
gether in young people, / think it
is q sufficiently serious symptom
TO call for a careful examination.
In people over fifty. they are so
common as to be Of little signifi-
canoe, or at least can usually be
adjusted by few days Of rest in
bed and cutting-down Of activity.
Women after the age of fifty
who are undergoing the climac-
terie change are often bothered
with attacks Of vertigo and faint
ing. They must be assured that
this Is common and natural and
will pass, and simply means that
nature is telling them not to over
do and not to strain their vital
reserves.
In many people over the age Of
fifty, both vertigo and syncope, in
most cases, mean nothing more
than q lack Of elasticity Of the
arteries Of the brain, which does
not allow them 10 respond as rap
idly to sudden changes Of posi-
ton, to sudden exertion and espe-
cially TO sudden emotions. Both
in men and women the ear may
be at fault and treatment directed
at that source is indicated.
Use of Substitution Drugs
In women especially, but also
in men, the use Of substitution
drugs which are used during the
menopause are very valuable.
But the most important thing
Of all is rest and relaxation. This
is especially important in war
time. 1t is my experience that the
young have a pretty good time
during wars and rather enjoy
them, but the old feel out Of it and
take it out in explosions Of nerv-
Gus energy which do nobody any
good but do the individual lot
of harm. I am going TO discuss
this further tomorrow, so we will
let the subject drop in that way.
There are, Of course, a few seri-
Gus causes Of vertigo and syncope
and fainting spells and allied con-
ditions, even in the old, but none
of these is beyond the means Of
any average doctor 10 treat and /
am sure that, after an examina-
ton which is neither expensive
nor elaborate, you will feel very
much better about q set Of symp-
toms which may be the cause OF
some perturbation.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
A. B.: please tell me what is
shingles, the cause, the remedy,
and the length"
Answer: Shingles Is very
painful eruption of the skin which
breaks out over the area Of the
distribution Of nerve. IL is prob
ably an infectious disease which
localizes in the sensory ganglia Of
the nerve and causes hemorrhages
there. The fact that it affects the
sensory part of the nerve is what
makes it so painful. The course
Of the disease may be divided into
three stages: first, several days
Of pain without eruption; second,
the skin eruption which appears
in the form Of hard blisters with
intense inflammatory reaction
around the point; and the con-
valescent period, during which
the skin heals up. The whole
course Of the disease usually lasts
about three weeks. The best
treatment is TO use the X-ray over
the area Of the affected ganglia.
Another treatment is the use Of
small doses of diphtheria anti
toxin. Why this latter works is
not known.