“Suspicious Dread” Of Epilepsy Deplored

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29842, 7 June 1962, Page 15

“Suspicious Dread” Of Epilepsy Deplored

Many persons had a suspicious dread of epilepsy, and public education was needed to get rid of this primitive emotion, the secretary-treas-urer of the Christchurch branch of the New Zealand Epilepsy Association (Mr T. H Beeston) said yesterday. Recently, the minister of a New Zealand church asked a member of his congregation never to come into the church again, after the member had had an attack during a service, said Mr Beeston. A 10-year-old boy in another church was told not to come back to Sunday school because he ’’frightened the other children.”

These were only examples of a problem epileptics faced. Mr Beeston added. It seemed to be thought that epilepsy was some kind of mysterious disease, whereas epileptics were normal most of the time and usually became nor-

mal a few minutes after an attack.

Many epileptics who could probably be helped considerably by his association did not join because of what they considered was the stigma attached to epilepsy If there were a more enlightened public, there would be no thought of any such stigma

The association sponsored research into epilepsy, and in this way benefited all sufferers, said Mr Beeston It also helped the individual by bringing him into contact with others similarly afflicted, making him feel he was not alone Functions run by the branch included social events and talks on matters connected with epilepsy. “More Members Needed” The branch had about 120 members, roughly four-fifths of whom were sufferers. More members were needed, both sufferers and non-suffer-ers. In particular, helpers were required to sit on committees and take part in the administration of the association. “It is a great work,” said Mr Beeston. Prospective helpers could get in touch with him by telephone. or could attend the annual meeting of the branch, which would be held at the new clubrooms at the Sydenham Public Library immediately after the official opening of the rooms on June 26. Asked what a member of the general public could do who saw an epileptic take a fit, Mr Beeston referred the question to one of the doctors associated with the branch. The doctor said the only thing to be done during the fit was to lay the sufferer where he would be comfortable and could not fall. There tvas no point in trying to prevent the tongue being bitten, for if biting occurred it would happen before preventive measures could be taken. The fit normally lasted less than two minutes, and in more than 95 per cent, of cases the epileptic was normal again after five minutes. Sometimes. however, the sufferer lost his memory, and this should be watched for. An epileptic in such a condition of automatic behaviour should be seen home.