HEALTH COLUMN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2310, 9 June 1898, Page 48

HEALTH COLUMN.

Muscular Cramp.

Muscular cramp, muscular exhaustion, or myalgia, as it is variously called in common and medical parlance, is often confounded with neuralgia and rheumatism. There are undoubtedly many instances of muscular cramp in which one or the other of the lastnamed conditions isf present; but in these cases the exhaustion depends upon the existing neuralgic or rheumatic condition, and disappears under treatment ■of the original trouble.

Myalgia — the word is derived from the Greek, and means muscular pain— arises from exhaustion of the substance of the muscle. This loss of vitality is in most cases the result of subjecting the muscle to excessive or long-continued activity under unfavourable conditions.

The amount of vitality which a muscle consumes when in action is, of course, pro* portionate to the amount of work required of it, and under normal conditions the supply furnished by the blood Is sufficient for the need. Under adverse conditions, however, there is no eppoitanltj Qfj&red for the com-

plete recovery of the musclefrom its labours, and a strain is the result. The muscle feels lame and sore, and not infrequently one can almost imagine that in some way it has become tied into knots.

Myalgia may attack any muscle, though there are certain ones which, by reason of tbeir location, are endangered more than others. Seamstresses are very liable to have cramp in the muscles of the -shoulders, on account of the steady application and confinement necessitated by the nature of their occupation. A favonrite seat for iriyalgia, as most of us can testify from painful experience, is in the calves of the legs.- The pain is especially severe on lying down at night, and may ba so great as evan to draw up the limbs. Massage offers the only certain relief from myalgia. The rubbing shonld be brisk to ensure an abundant circulation of blood to the distressed muscles, and for this reason . also it should be in the direction of the vessels through which the blood flows.

Liniments of various kinds may be tried, or what is better, the external application of alcohol may be resorted to. , Olofchs rung out; of hot water, with a tsaspoonful prao oE laudanum sprinkled on them, and Tplaced directly over the aching muscles, are useful to ease the pain. ' - . , When the trouble is inthe muscles of the leg, .hofc foot-bafths may/he employed to re'storß the circulation in the limbs and to " draw out " the pain. \ The observation of general hygienic measures should not be forgotten where there is a tendency to muscalar cramp.