The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1945-05-21
Your Health
Diet, Drugs May
be Used TO Treat
Epileptics

Epileptlcs
Bv n. n. RpNpEsEN. NJ. D.
EPILEPSY Is q term used for
a condition in which there are re-
current attacks Of loss Of con-
seriousness with or without spasms
Of the muscles. There are two
types of epilepsy, One Is called
grand NAL and the other petit NAL.
In the grand NAL type Of cpl
lepsy, there often is what Is
known as an aura before the at
tack occurs. This aura may con
sist of flashes of light before the
ewes or, in some cases, the aura
may consist Of twitehing Of just
a few muscles in the body such as
the arm or leg. Before an attack,
there also may be other symptoms
or signs such as irritability, upset
digestion, headache and mental
dizziness.
Petit Nal
In the petit NAL varietv there
is loss of consciousness . r only
one or two seconds. There may
be staring Of the eyes or the eyes
may roll upward. The lips may
move. Attacks Of this kind are
often called staring or dizzy
spells.
Following a grand NAL attack,
the patient often falls asleep and
when he awakens has severe
headache. An attack may occur at
night without the patient being
aware Of it.
An instrument known As an
electrocephalogrsph mas been de-
vised by which it is possible to
measure the electrical brain
waves. It has been found by this
instrument that in persons with
epilepsy there is disturbance OF
the rhythm Of these electrical
waves. The disturbance consists
either of slowing or Of speeding up
Of the waves and an increase in
the voltage or amount Of electro
cal current formed by the brain.
Treating Epilepsy
In treating epilepsy in children
there are two important thinss-T
first, efforts TO prevent the at
tacks and, second, care during an
attack to keep the child from suf-
fer;ng injury. Such children must
be constantly guarded against
falling. In adults, driving an
automobile, climbing, swimming
or nsslU alone, working at oc-
eLss5slths teQu5Skis sks 49, an
open FIRE, of hot or electrical OBJ
jeets, OF Of moving machinery
should be forbidden
. In the prevention Of attacks,
physical and mental hygiene
should never be neglected. The
child or adult should be carefully
studied and any physical defects
present, such as infected teeth,
tonsils or sinuses should be
treated. Unnecessary anxiety or
undue excitement should DO
avoided.
Preventative Drugs
Drugs, however, must be relied
on principally to prevent epileptic
seizures. A number Of drugs are
used, such as phenytoin sodium
and the bromides. OF these drugs
it would appear that the pheny-
tom sodium gives the best results,
because it serves to stop the at
tacks without having an excessive
or sleep-producing effect. The
bron.ides are usually employed in
those instances in which the other
drugs are Of no help.
II has also been found that what
is known as a ketogenic diet may
be useful in the treatment of cpl
lepsy. This is q diet, rich in fats
and limited in starches and sug-
ars. 1t produces ketosis or the
presence in the blood Of sub
stances known as ketones. | have
outlined such a diet which I shall
be glad TO send to anyone desiring
it If he will write me, enclosing
a self-addressed, stamped 'enve-
lope. Names will not be used. OF
course, any person with epilepsy
should be under the care Of ply
stefan.
you can hardly touch the paper
It's so dried out. We've got farm