Democratic Sentinel, Volume 7, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 April 1883 — Apoplexy. [ARTICLE]

Apoplexy.

Apoplexy is primarily due to “ degenerations” in the walls of the arteries of the brain. These allow them to be ruptured by the blood pressure which the beating of the heart always causes, but especially when the heart is unusually excited. The blood may trickle out from numerous pin-head enlargements of the capillaries, or bn poured from large ruptures. Generally a post-mortem shows roundish clots, averaging the size of a marble, in the centers of which are the minute openings of the raptured arteries. The most common seat of the hemorrhage is in the vicinity of the “ basal ganglia ’’—great nerve centers specially related to motion and sensation. The clot may be (1) absorbed, (2) become surrounded with a sac (cyst), gradually undergo fatty degeneration, and be absorbed in about two years; (8) may inflame the adjacent brain substance, and give rise to the softenings of the latter; (4) may cause degeneration es the nerves and give rise to atrophy, or .decay of the brain, resulting incomplete imbecility. In the first and second cases recovery may take place. jf w The tendency to senile apoplexy begins after about 40, and increases with the advance of age. The predisposing causes may be degeneration of the cerebral arteries, enlargement of the heart and softening of the brain. The tendency to degeneration of the arteries, and thus to apoplexy, may be hereditary. Men are more liable to it than women. Cold weather disposes to it. An attack may be brought on by whatever stimulates the heart—excitement, running, over-exertion, improper food, alcoholic liquors, or by a eold bath which forces the blood in froni the surface. ....... The attack may come on either with or without premonitory symptoms. Some of the latter are loss of memory, difficulty of speech, stupor, a feeling of weight, numbness or prickling. It may be so slight as to be only a momentary unconsciousness. The older and more feeble the patient, the greater the danger. Even if he recovers, there is some loss of mental power. In the treatment, all causes of excitement most be guarded against; the diet be nourishing, easy of digestion and moderate, and the general health be specially cared for.— Youth’s Companion.