The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1943-10-02


base of the brain, is composed Of
the same kind of nervous tissue,
but it has functions Of its own. 1t
is the great co-ordinator and equi-
librator of the body.
1t receives fibers from the CEN
tiers for the eye, the ear, the or
gan of equilibrium, from the
nerves coming from the skin up
the spinal cord, and from the mo-
tor area of the brain. All these
are fused to make the equilibrium
Of the body perfect. Then the cere-
bellum sends out fibers to the mus
cles which makes them synergis-
tic-move- in unison and purpose.
fully.
Acute alcoholic intoxication is a
good enough example of disturb
ance of equilibrium to illustrate
at least that perfect equilibrium
is a co-ordinated function. The
DRINKS vision is disturbed-he
sees double or triple; his organs
of equilibrium, the semi-circular
canals, are not functioning-giee
him an amateur Barany test by
spinning him around and when
you let go of him he is lost in an
impenetrable forest; his muscles
have lost coordination and he
fumbles at his buttons, he cannot
grasp even a glass without brac-
ing his body and arms, pulls a
coin out Of his pocket and drops it
on the floor. Yet his motor reflexes
and skin responses are likely to be
quite normal, he has no paralysis
of the muscles, and if you can get
him to respond at all, he can de-
termine the position of his fingers,
toes, feet, hands, legs, etc.
Turning from the pathological
condition of the drunk, let US con-
slider the marvels even the hum
blest Of US perform daily and
hourly in the field of equilibrium.
l am playing golf and | am, at the
moment | am describing, about to
hit a golf ball with the end Of
club.
The golf ball in the first place
is quite a small object-a sphere
only a little over an inch in d.
ameter. The face of the club is also
quite small. My feet are about
two or three feet from the ball.
! am in no physical contact with it
whatever. The face of the club is
far from my body, controlled only
by my hands. Yet l must bring
not only the face but the center
Of the face Of the club not only
into contact with the ball, but
within a spot geometrically OPP
posite the exact center of the ball.
l do not claim | always do this,
but l do it perhaps two times out
of three, and that do it at all
seems to me sort of automatically
marvellous.
1t is a triumph Of my cerebel-
lum. ! am able to hold my body in
a certain poise-my stance in
cludes maintaining a tonus of my
muscles, a correct sense Of what
my joints are doing, and of course
my semi-circular canals are work
ing like fury all through my swing.
Ny vision is also involved: | have
TO keep my eye on the ball, or at
least so / am told on the highest
authority. And all these sensa-
tons and volitions are co-ordi-
mated in the cerebellum.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
A. j.: How long is the conta-
gious stage Of whooping cough?
Is it true that children whoop long
after the contagious stage is
over?
Answer: The first three weeks
are the most infective period of
vhooping cough, although strictly
speaking the entire infective Pc
riod lasts six weeks.
". L. r.: What causes Burgers
disease? Is there a cure or any
relief?
Answer: Burgers disease is an
inflammation and gradual closure
Of the arteries of the legs. Treat
ment means giving up tobacco,
and the use Of exercises which
improve the circulation. Surgery
is sometimes necessary. You GER
tainly should have personal medi-
cal advice.