The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-07-06
Current Comment
ACTIVITY FOR PALSY

ANAAVAA4 COAN Y AL01 \
 Inability to use or control limp or limbs on one side of the body, which occurs either suddenly from rupture of a small artery and bleed- ing into the substance of the brain Cerebral hemorrhage or apoplexy) or develops less abruptly Gin the course of nights sleep perhaps) from slowing of the circulation and clotting of blood in small blood vessel in the brain (thrombosis, cerebral softening) which shuts off the blood supply to the area in- volved, is called hemiplegia by phy- sicians. Hemi means one-half and plegia or plexy means stroke-hem- iplegia means one-half of the body paralyzd The popular term for apoplexy Cerebral hemorrhage) or for cerebral thrombosis (clotting within blood vessel in the brain) is stroke" or shock" of paralysis
 Cerebral softening (clotting of blood within a blood vesseD is due simply to the shutting off of the normal supply of blood to the areaa the obstructed vessel has fed. The same effect, so far as the occurrence of paralysis or inability to use the muscle goes, sometimes occurs from lodgment of a minute portion of blod clot, of fat, or of a particle of tissue which breaks loose from the heart lining or heart valves ill chronic endocarditis (heart lining inflammation or valvular disease of long standing) and travels in the blood stream until it reaches a branch vessel through which it can- not pass, and SO plugs or obstructs the vessel. Such a foreign body travelling in the blood stream is called an ambolus and the paraly sis ensuing upon its lodgment in the brain is called embolism.
 The cerebral softening (clotting of blood in a vesseD must not be confused with what is sometimes popularly called "softening of the brain," disease physicians call paresis, paralytic dementia, general paralysiss of the insane. This has nothing to do with clotting of blood or embolism in vessel in the brain. ParesiS means rather weakness or partial paralysis than loss of use of the muscles.
 While we're sorting things out we may as well note that paralysis means ''loosened or disabled at the side" and the older term palsy (pro- nounced paWlzy) means nowadays the disease physicians call paralysis agitans, shaking palsy, Parkinson's disease or syndrome (group of signs or symptoms).
 Paralysis agitans, first described by Parkinson in 1877, which occurs in middle-aged persons, generally presents such characteristic signs or symptoms that any one can recog- nize 1.-the mask-like expression, pill-rolling tremor of hands and es- pecially thumb and fore1nger, and the rigid Stiff-arm forward bending attitude in walking, as well as the feStinating gait-stepS shorter and shorter until the individual seems about to fall.
 Since tie great influenza epidemic in 1917-1916 there have been good many cases of syndrome closely resembling paralysis agitans, follow ing lethargic cncaphaiitis. These patients are as often children or young adults as mlddle-aged.
 Most satisfactory treatment for all of these Parkinsonian palsies or tremors or syndromes is medication with atropine, belladonna, hyoscine. hyoscyamus or other drugs or mod ifications of drugs of that group
 The characteristic rigidity Of the muscles is the main cause Of dis ability in cases of Parkinsons syn drome and the tendency of most of these patients is to remain seated or to lie aved most of the time, Un- til the rigidity becomes so extreme that, if they try to walk at all they walk like moving statues.
 Much experience has shown that these patients should remain as ac- tive as possible. They should GO regular general exercises, nothing strenuous, just mild exercises or activities calculated to promote or maintain freedom, residence, grace
 
 of movement.
 In a brief but highly practical discussion of the subject in N. Y. State Jour. of Medicine Drs. A. M. Rabiner and Morton H. Hand liken the muscle rigidity of Parkisonian patients to frozen water. On a cold day water freezes. It is less likely to freeze when moving.
 So let all Parkinsonian patients beware of the vicious circle or rig idity. If they succumb to the temp tation to sit or lie quietly when they might or should be active, the rig idity becomes still more marked and if not combated by regular &C., tivity it becomes actually painful.
 Don't give up your active work. play or occupation.
 Don't be pushed into corner.
 Whats little tremor and may be a slight impeachment in walking between friends? Go into your dance, play your game, roll your somersaults, skip the rope, step out for a little walk frequently or play your piano to beat the band-keep your muscles Timber by frequent ac- tivity so you won't freeze.