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Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis.Symptoms.-The onset of the disease is usually sudden, and includes a chill, nausea and vomiting, with intense pain in the head. This pain, which soon extends to the back of the neck and along the spine, seems simply agonizing, and soon renders the patient delirious. The pain is aggravated by light, sound, and movements of the body ; so sensitive is the individual to the slightest disturb ance, that it is almost impossible to stay in his vicinity without causing him annoyance. Notwithstanding the pain along the spine, there is frequently no tenderness in this region, pressure being borne without flinching ; yet the pressure of the hand upon the stomach and abdomen, or upon the skin in different parts of the body, is apt to be painful. As in the case of spinal meningitis, the skin is everywhere intensely sensitive, so that a slight touch or the pressure of the bedclothes is sufficient to cause pain. In most cases, delirium occurs in a few hours; this delirium varies considerably in intensity and in its character. At times several hours elapse before the friends become aware that the patient is not in his usual mental condition ; at first he merely dis plays a difficulty in collecting his ideas and in answering questions; but after a time he becomes sullen and morose, making no response upon being addressed. In other cases, the delirium is from the first an active one, the patient shouting, singing, and attempting violence to others as well as to himself. In this variety of delirium the patient usually has calm intervals during the day, being violent at night. If there be no delirium the patient is extremely despon dent and fearful, or becomes stupid and unconscious. Sight and hearing may be impaired ; the face is hot and flushed. The condition of the muscles affords valuable information as to the nature and progress of the disease. Violent contractions of different muscles are apt to occur in the limbs, but especially of the neck and back. The result of this rigidity of the muscles of the back and neck is a peculiar position of the head, which is drawn back forcibly, so that the neck and back are somewhat bow-shaped, the back of the head being buried in the pillow. Various other muscles may assume a similar state of contraction, so that the arms and legs, the hands and feet are twisted into unusual positions ; and any effort to straighten them out occasions intense pain. The various changes in the position of the eyes, also, which have been described in connection with inflammation of the brain, may occur in this disease. Paralysis is a somewhat infrequent symptom. Nausea and vomiting are usually among the first symptoms of the disease, and persist, sometimes, throughout the attack. The tongue is often large and flabby, and when protruded shows the indentations in the sides left by the teeth. The lips and teeth arc- frequently covered with dark material called sordes. The fever is not so intense as might be expected from the severity of the disease ; indeed, at the beginning of the illness the body heat is often lower than that of health, as ascertained by the thermometer. At no time in the disease is there marked fever, unless it be for a few hours just before death. Another feature, from which the disease gets its name spotted fevery consists of spots due to the escape of blood into the skin. These may vary in size from that of a pin's head to a quarter or half an inch in diameter, and may appear on different parts of the body, particularly on the chest and abdomen. These spots are not always present, even in fatal cases of the disease. The disease occurs with especially frequency among children, and is attended with the greatest mortality. Males more frequently die of it than females. Epidemics occur most frequently in cold weather, especially in winter, being next most frequent in the spring. There is no evidence that this disease is contagious. Treatment*-We are in ignorance as to the cause of this dis ease, and naturally ignorant as to the proper means for treating it. A large majority of the patients die, no matter what remedies or what kind of treatment be employed. In every case, therefore, the patient must be treated and not the disease, and it is impossible to lay down rules which shall apply to all cases. The application of ice to the head and to the spine, the administration of opium, and friction of the body with whisky may perhaps afford relief. But first, if you want to come back to this web site again, just add it to your bookmarks or favorites now! Then you'll find it easy! Also, please consider sharing our helpful website with your online friends.
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