The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1945-04-27
Your Health
Treatment Varies
For Improvement os
Gripping Ailments
By "A. n. BoNpEsEN. N D

Gripping Ailments
By n. n. BONpEsEN, " D
GRIPPING diseases such as
paralysis, srthritis or joint IN
fammation and injuries often
leave persons in a disabled state.
Not only are the movements I'M
tied but the patients may suffer
from pain and spasm which IN
crease their inactivity.
Various types Of treatment have
been employed to aid these per
sons. Rest, massage, exercises
physical training and heat all have
their place.
Recently, Doctor Herman Kabat
OF Minnesota has reported some
good results with the use OF the
drug known as neostigmine or pro
itigmine.
For example, one Of the patients,
woman, whom he treated had
6een confined to bed for six years
because Of rheumatoiC arthritis
and after two weeks Of treatment
was able TO stand up and walk. A
man had been paralyzed on his
right side for II year, and was
able after "a hours 10 touch the top
OF his head, his opposite shoulder,
to put a cigarette in his mouth and
to move his hip. After month Of
treatment. he could stand up.
straight with both knees straight
ana only a slight humping Of his
back.
OF course, these two cases do not
mean shat all patients with these
various Gripping disorders will be
benefited, but they seem 70 lndl-
cate that some benefit may be de
rived in a number Of instances.
The neostigmine was given by
injection under the skin once or
twice a day. This drug has been
used in the treatment of disorder
known as nyasthenia gravis, IN
which there is great weakness Of
the muscles. and has been found
beneficial in this condition al
though not curative.
The preparation haf also been
used by Doctor Kabat IN the treat
ment Of infantile paralysis. He
found that it relaxed the muscle
spasm, relieved pain and increased
the strength of the muscles. but
here again. il cannot be hoped that
the drug will overcome the paraly-
sis, which the disease produces.
Altogether, Doctor Kabat has
employed the preparation in So pa
tients. Some Of these patients had
muscle spasm, others weakness OF
the joints and muscular weakness.
Some were suffering from para
lysis Of one side Of the body due to
an apoplectic stroke. Included in
the group were five who had spas
tic paralysis which was produced
by brain injuries at birth.
The outstanding results Of the
treatment with neostignine were
improvement in the range of mo-
lions, relief from pain, and in
crease IN strength and endurance.
II joints have been so damaged
that they are fixed, it cannot be
expected that the neostigmine
treatment will be Of any help, and,
if permanent paralysis has been
produced, it eanno. be expected
that the drug will bring cure.
However, these patients who are
crippled do suffer from aches and
pains and such great limitation of
activities that many are prac-
tically helpless. Hence, any treat
ment which increases their activity
and relieves their discomfort will
be widely welcomed
Further studies with neostig
mine must be carried out before
the percentage Of patients who can
hope for improvement can be de-
termined. Nevertheless. the results
would appear 70 be encouraging.
Tomorrow DR.. BundeSen viii
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