The daily monitor. (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1940-1942, 1942-03-23


understand what is happening
Very few people understand VIVA
Is going on in system when TIT
body is suddenly convulsed by
seizure Of such muscular tenSit!
that the body becomes rigid, o.
twists into some wild shape. Con-
WILSON'S occur because some nerve
center Is for some reason con-
etricted either by an over-supplJ
or an under-current OF the llft
stream. That is. the brain is sud
denly put out Of its usual func'
ton by having either too much OF
too little blood supplied to main
tain the normal flow Of sensations
and motor orders to the nerves
and muscles.
Pressure on Brain
It is the normal tendency Of
muscular tissue to contract. When
the usual balance of the nervous
system is undone. the usual coun-
ter impulses that hold the muscles
In control are not functioning and
the contractions take on an alb
normal strength.
Usually, the situation is one OF
undue pressure on the brain tissue
itself. This pressure comes about
through accident, an attack OF
meningitis, or a growing tumor
which may have been developing
Ill unsupported. Only when the
tuinor gets large enough to bring
this pressure on q portion OF the
brain tissue itself 1t Is likely to
make its presence known to the
patient, or his family.
The chief cause Of commissions
a, Of course, some excitation OF
the reflex nerves that lets them
ret out of control. This excitation
may be an acute disease, OF the
kidneys, for instance. or of any OF
the organs concerned especially
with the blood supply or its stor-
age. It may be, unfortunately, q
matter of nervous instability and
rs such is an opportunity for some
folks to play for sympathy by
letting go of all possible self con-
troll. This last factor Is always
considered by authors writing on
tho subject Of such seizures. 1t is
conceded that there Is difference
In ages, types, and conditions
when It comes to the likelihood OF
explaining the symptoms OF con-
vulsions.
Hard to Explain
You do not learn much about
commissions by consulting medical
literature. There is really not
much chance of explaining them
unless one knows a great deal
about the history and general
physical makeup Of the patient.
The tendency to convulsive seiZ-
ures Is aggravated by excuses OF
any kind, by undue exhaustion.
and. as ! have already indicated.
BY some acute infection Of some
chronic trouble that has reached
an obstructive stage. They can
be caused by toxic poisons as in
pregnancy when the system, now
carrying two loads. fails to make
provision for the disposal of waste
In the kidneys or intestines. Even
severe fright can bring on a con-
vulsion II 1t Is enough to interfere
with normal nerve nutrition.
It Is easy to say. as most Of the
books do. that convulsion is only
q symptom. That may be true ex-
cept In such diseases as epilepsy
or rabies. in which the disease it.
self Is expressed by such convul-
Sive attacks. Otherwise. We look
for some source as will be indi-
Gated by general conditions.
It Is perfectly reasonable to say
that IN case Of convulsion. one
should do nothing. particularly
anything Of a stimulating nature,
Ike shaking or calling frantically
70 the patient. The case is already
one. OF distorted nerve tension,
and the less done the better until
the nature of the seizure can be
determined. Keep cool yourself
)U0sen any restricting clothing.
( Rut q cover over the sufferer
lightly To avoid chilling. and be
( gt1re to rid the room and sur
roundIngs Of anything Of an irri-
tatjng nature, such as too-officious
!. relatives and }neighbors. The only
N1&6tofatives needed at the moment
M those that bring rest and
)ull&ation.