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Show HEALTH ADVICE By Dr. Morris Rshbein Editor, Journal of tk AnwricM M Steal St-eal AuocMtion This is th first In a series In which Dr. Fiahbein discusses diseases of the nervous system and their treatment. Th' nervous systems) Includes -not only the brain and tha spinal column, but also all of tha nerves which carry sensation and which aid in tha motion of tha muscles. Moreover, there is an associated nervous mechanism which is grestly concerned in tha activities of the involuntary organs whose activities must fo on constantly. Influences of various kinds affect af-fect the nervous system, such as material coming to the nervous tissues by way of the blood, ac-.tivities ac-.tivities of secretions of various glands, snd digestion and absorption absorp-tion of food. Conditions affecting the nervous system ars generally classified as of two types those which affect the actions of th body and those , which affect the mind. In aoma conditions both the mind and the motor sctivlties may be involved. In order to determine ths ex-Tent ex-Tent to which ths nervous system is involved, intricate and detailed examinations are made not only of the blood and of other secretions, secre-tions, but usually of the spinal fluid as well. Pupils of the eyes are examined, the senses of smell and taste are studied, nature of the speech is investigated and tests are made of movement of individual muscles. The physicisn will make a complete com-plete study of tha diet since certain cer-tain dietary deficiencies ar promptly revealed by disturbances in th nervous system. Some portions of the nervous system act voluntarily and others Involuntarily. In order to determine deter-mine the extent to which the various va-rious actions are disturbed the doctor makes a study of th reflexes, re-flexes, one of these, for example, being the knee jerk. When the doctor taps the front of the patient'a knee, there is an involuntary kick if the nervous mechanism is in a satisfactory condition. If there have been disturbances dis-turbances of that mechanism, the kick may not occur. Spinal fluid may indicate the presence of infection or inflammation inflam-mation by an increase in the number num-ber of cells, by a change in the amount of protein, by the presence pres-ence of blood, by a change in the amount of sugar, and in various other ways. In inflammation of the brain, Infantile paralysis and meningitis due to the germ of tuberculosis, there may be changes in the spinal fluid which are quits similar. When syphilis invades the nervous system, it produces disastrous changes which may b revealed by studies of the Wassermann test of the spinal fluid as well ss of the blood. NEXT: Symptoms and diagnosis diag-nosis of some nervous system diseases. |