APOPLEXY.

Rodney and Otamatea Times, Waitemata and Kaipara Gazette, 21 May 1913, Page 2

APOPLEXY.

An apopletic seizure, or fit, as it is popularly called, is due to congestion or excess of blood in the brain. This condition may be brought about either because too much blood goes to the brain or because, owing to some obstacle, the blood cannot return to the brain as quickly and easily as it ought to do. G^lfcrtion often rises from high living^^^conjunction with want of exercise, constant drinking of alcoholic liquors .of any kind, disease of liver, kidneygior heart. It is most commonly met with in persons who are florid, high-colored, and somewhat stout, but it is quite a mistake to suppose that these are the only sort of people who can be attacked by apoplexy. The symptoms will be a sense of fulness and tightness of the head" and neck, as if a tight collar were being worn Xthis, by the way, really does hinder the return of blood from the brain, VK&d should be avoided); flushing of l^fcjßee, headache, giddiness, sickness^MtHj;es in the ears, etc.* Sometimes ; shj^^ftttacks of unconsciousness ara j^Kced, and after these warning siag^Kve appeared the actual seizure - place, the patient becomes dro^pand finally falls into complete stupor. |M|other cases there are no Frenionitory^ymptoms but the condition of apoplexy arises suddenly, and the person becomes unconscious and powerless. The face will probably be flushed, the breathing noisy, the pulse usually full and strong, but slower than is natural.

Whenever the symptoms just described are present, care should be taken to guard against excitement, heavy meals, and the habit of taking alcohol. Clothing should be loose, and moderate exercise must be taken daily. Occasional doses of purgative medicine be taken, especially when- the ' head aches, as it i s highly necessary to keep. ■-. the bowels regularly freed from any accumulation1. Salts, seidlitz powders, or some mineral water should be used pretty regularly where there- is the .slightest difficulty about obtaining a regular daily evacuation.

If an apoplectic fit seizes a person he should be put. tb bed at once, on a hard mattress, with his head raised, the room must be kept cool, and either ice or clothes wrung out of cold water should be laid on the head. Other measures must be left to the medical; man to suggest, as every case varies in detail. . 173