A system of practical medicine. By American authors. Vol. 5 : $b Diseases of the nervous system
Science
A system of practical medicine. By American authors. Vol. 5 : $b Diseases of the nervous system
Medicine -- Practice
The conditions of cerebral hyperæmia require cold applications to the
head, the wet pack, prolonged warm baths, a non-stimulating diet, and
quiet. If the condition is acute and of short duration, rest in bed is
useful, provided it can be secured without force. For prolonged mental
excitement from cerebral hyperæmia it will be usually better to
equalize the circulation by that motor activity which is
characteristic of the disease, and to allow free exercise in the open
air, keeping within the limits of exhaustion. My experience has not
justified the use of bleeding, except, possibly, in acute delirium
(mania peracuta). It is difficult to limit the action of blisters, and
they often irritate the patient so much as to do more harm than good.
Persistent refusal of food is usually due to delirium or delusions,
and should be met with a resort to feeding with the stomach-tube
before the point of exhaustion is reached if the tact of a skilled
nurse fails of success. Mechanical restraint increases the cerebral
hyperæmia, and there are few homes or general hospitals where it must
not be used if there is excessive violence or delirium, making the
insane asylum in those cases a necessity. Objectionable as it is,
however, mechanical restraint is less harmful than the continued use
of large doses of sedative drugs, as is so often the practice, in
order to keep patients quiet enough to remain at home.
Ergot, hydrate of chloral, and opiates, which sometimes must be given
by the rectum or stomach-tube, are sometimes advisable for a short
time, but must be used with great caution. Milder sedatives,
especially the bromides, serve a temporary use in the less violent
cases; but less sleep will often serve if secured by quiet, abundant
liquid food, and general measures, and in exhaustion by alcoholic
stimulants.
Menorrhagia is very common in the maniacal states. It usually requires
no special treatment, unless so great as to produce exhaustion.
Amenorrhœa is commonly conservative, and then demands only general
treatment; if it causes evident disturbance of the cerebral
circulation, the ordinary methods, including electricity, massage, and
local use of leeches, should be used.
{137} Galvanism is sometimes useful, applied to the head, in cases of
mental torpor and stupor. That and the faradic current, used with
great care, act as powerful tonics to the general nervous and muscular
system.
Insomnia is often the chief manifestation of the insane taint, in
which case drugs are, for the most part, worse than useless. In all
forms of sleeplessness it is better to try malt, cod-liver oil, beer,
food, massage, baths, exercise, rest, etc. before resorting to
narcotics and sedatives. Camphor, hyoscyamus, cannabis indica, the
valerianates, bromides, codeia are much less objectionable than
chloral, morphine, and opium.
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