THE DIARY OF A DOCTOR WHO TELLS

Evening Star, Issue 25565, 18 August 1945, Page 10

THE DIARY OF A DOCTOR WHO TELLS

NERVOUS BREAKDOWN ..Monday, August 13. " I've got a constant headache and 1 don't 6eem to be able to concentrate at all. I just sort of feel dizzy when I've got to get oh with my work at the office," was Sheila Mann's opening sentence this evening when I asked her why she had come to see me. " 1 went and told the chief about it this morning, and he said I'd better Bee a doctor, especially when he heard I'd had it two or three months now. He said it sounded like a nervous breakdown to him." " Work at the office is pretty strenuous these days, 1 suppose?" I said to Sheila. '' It's not that 1 mind hard work, really," she replied in a rather helpless tone. "It just doesn't seem to get me anywhere, though. That's the real trouble. 1 asked'her to explain further. " Well, I've got a pretty responsible job for a secretary," she replied, " and J see a lot of what goes on round the place. Xo matter how hard you work to get the stuff cleaned up,- you find yourself with just as much next morning. You just get fed up, I suppose. "Andoften things are held up when you've to get action on them. It's all very exasperating." " You sound generally frustrated," I said, smilingly, adding hastily, "I mean as far as the office is concerned." " Tt's all very well to laugh," said Sheila, " but that's just what the trouble is. I know I can cope with the average job, but this one's just getting me down. I'm . . .. even . . . ge . . . ge' .- .• . getting the tr . . . tr ■" trembles." And she burst into tears. " Sorry," she said in a minute or two when she dried her eyes. "I'm 27 and ought to have more sense. My holidays will soon be due, and I suppose I'll feel better." "You're , going on holidays right now," I said, after further examination. " A month's sick leave, and we'll see how you are then." " Nervous breakdown " of this type is not so much the result of overwork as overwork associated with feelings of discontent and at feast partial frustration. It has been said that "nervous, breakdown comes to a mind that is I burdened with . the strain of keeping . up all its disguises." J And again, " fight or flight are I the only two alternatives to the person suffering from nerves." When he's dispirited about .the former he seeks refuge in the latter. These people are not to be blamed for what are, after all, instinctive reactions The role of the family doctor, or more specially the psychiatrist, is to point' out that the various problems can be dealt with in a more rational and. thoughtful way. A rough-and-ready " pull yourself together,'' as an expert points out, is not siktli sound advice to those who are already trying desperately to do' so and using up their nervous reserves so doing. They are more likely to pull themselves to pieces. Controllers of labour have a neavy responsibility to see that their organisation is efficient, and, further, to realise that the most precious and expensive piece of machinery they use is the human body. Tuesday, August 14. " There's been so much cancer in our family that it's hard to believe that it's not contagious," said Mrs Lawrence this morning. ! was leaving her mother's house, where I had been bidden to give some relief to the old lady, who was dying from the dread .disease. '' It really isn't," I replied. " Well, i don't think we know too much about it," said Mrs Lawrence cautiously, " and I've just told the children that they must stay away from grannie for the time being."

■" You needn't have any fears about contagion." 1 said. " The thing's been

investigated dozens of times. Tales about ' cancer houses ' and ' cancer villages ' always turn out to be wrong, except the inevitable coincidences which are always bound to occur." It is true, however, in my experience that some families seem more susceptible of cancer than others. When we really understand the cause, of all cancer, maybe that fact will find simple explanation. Wednesday, August 15. " I had congestion of the lungs a few years ago," said Harry Banks this evening wheli, in taking his medicai history, 1 asked him what previous illnesses he had had. " What was the condition exactly?" I questioned. "It was just congestion of the lungs," s.aid Harry. " Tell me the symptoms," 1 asked, which Harry did. They suggested a bad attack of bronchitis. " Congestion of the lungs," like indigestion, is a symptom rather than a disease. The term is sometimes used in a kindly way to cover uglier-sounding conditions. The congestion can be Caused 'by a variety of things, from actual lung conditions to the effects of a failing heart, fronr simple conditions of childhood to serious ailments of old age. Another term heard more often in the home than the medical school is " inflammation of the lungs." Pneumonia is an acute inflammation ol the lungs in which the air spaces get filled with the products of inflammation—so much so that the lung is almost solid in parts. Thursday, August 16. " L do hope I've not called you unnecessarily," said Mrs Wright, anxiously, this morning, as she led me into the bedroom of her 11-year-old. " I know how busy you are these days, but I was worried. . . ." The young patient turned out to have an_ugly'sore on his foot, a (Faint red line up his leg, a lump in his groin, and a slight temperature, sure signs of an infected wound of the skin and underlying tissues. " Ypu've srot to get on' to that right away," 1 said to Mrs Wright. ■" Bring me some" hot water and we'll start now." The foot was well bathed, some antiseptic applied, and instructions given to keep it up and repeat the bathing every couple of hours. When I telephoned to-n ; ght to ask how. it was going, Mrs Wright reported an improvement. People are very considerate to 1 doctors thase days, and are often troubled as to when it is justifiable or necessary to call them. Signs when medical help should be sought urgently are:— Signs of infection such as those just mentioned. A temperature that continues more than 24 hours. I Acute 6tomach pain with vomiting, I especially accompanied by a slight temperature. "Pain with coughing, both persisting. ' Continued sore throat or earache . Persistent hamiorrhage anywhere. Medical advice can reasonably be sought for the following reasons: — Lumps or sores that persist for weeks, Progressive loss of weight and appetite. Raphes or skin irritations that last more than a few days. Continued pain anywhere. Persistent tiredness connected with insufficient sleep t Nothing serious mav be involved in , these cases, but certainty could only be claimed on that score after expert , examination Friday, August 17.

Medical news travels apace these days, and already patients are asking me. details of the new anti-insect preparation, '' DDT." " Is it true that it wipes out the' ily plague in hoinesF" asked Mrs Lunn hopefully to-day.

" I understand that that is one-of its possibilities," I replied, " but 1 confess that I don't know much more about it than the average person."

" DDT " is sort of short for Dichlorodiphenyltriehloroethane (one of those bappy little medical names that explain everything to the scientificallytrained but look like a pre-historie monster to others). Its recent war success is said to be outstanding, since merely puffing it into the lining of clothes has been sufficient to kill all body lice and to prevent typhus. It seems possible that, after the war, providing the same rightful enthusiasm for these things exists, we may see the end of the house fly, mosquito, cockroach, and termite.

Strangely, the discovery isn't new. It was made more than 60 years ago by ii Continental chemist. Its value was not appreciated till war came.

Names in this diary fictitious (Copyright.)