LOST LIMBS THAT ACHE.

Northern Advocate, 27 August 1924, Page 2

LOST LIMBS THAT ACHE.

CURIOUS N KRY K MEMORIES

It is a. curious. thing that a man may feel pain in fingers or toes with which he has long parted company, but the explanation is simple (says the medical correspondent of the London "Daily News"). The pain of the nervous system is not unlike that of electric bells in a large house. Pain is a danger signal which calls attention to the approach of some enemy, and each nerve twig over the surface of the body registers its warning in the brain where there is an imlcator to show the site of the pain. The nerve trunks which convey the messages to the brain lie snug among the soft tissues of the limbs and body; they have no feeling of their own; it would serve no useful purpose if they had. But if by chance a. nerve, trunk is pinched or pulled the pain is felt at the bell-push and not in the wire. Hence the pressure of a crutch under the arm or of the hard edge of a seat on the leg gives rise to "pins and needles" in the hand or fool.

Now when :t nm!) has been amputated and tlie nerves cut across, the nerve fibres always sprout from the cut ends in the forlorn attempt to connect up again with the bell-push which is no longer there. And it is these bunche--. of 'ooso ends which are so apt to be up in the scar or to be pressed upon the artificial limb. Everything depends upon having a welMittiiiL bucket to the new leg, in which the pressure is taken evenly by Hie whole stump. As a rule, with time and practice, the result is good, and nothing more is felt than stn occasional twinge to remind the bearer of the toes which were once his own. Now and then a further little operation may be.mvessary to free the nerve fibrils from 'he scar. Sometimes there may bo a troublesome twitching shivering in the stump 'of , the. J'risb. when a miinful nerve avill' almos*. re:tainly be found. 'And after th;> T;?:< been. seen to the trial will cease. If, i-, worth much time and trouble en the part of both manufacturer am] user io make the best of Iht*. jimb. for the amputee lvas a good prosper of better, in fact, than the intact worker of the same age. Nor is his prospect of usefulness much, reduced il he sticks it out. "Sursum eaudn, 4 -' —that is to -say, "keep your up" —is General Beth line's motto to those who are crippled like. Jiims'df. And it is open io every amputee, >•" not to win the "Star" race. ,-:t :. 11 events- to emulate Scoutmaster Sires. - ,