ALCOHOLIC NEURITIS.

989 have a duty to discharge, not only to the nurses, for whom trunks. Indeed, within a muscle there was not a single normal we have a special right to speak, and to ourselves when nerve fibre. Nor were the lesions of these intra-muscular made the subjects of such groundless accusations, but nerves limited to degeneration as in the nerve trunks; but also to the donors of the Guarantee Fund, whose objects each degenerated fibre was surrounded by numerous lamina of connective tissue produced from the endoneurium and we cordially share, and whose princely liberality we have from the first most amply recognised. The best way, as we perineurium. It would seem as if the existence of the judge, to save the scheme which they have launched from degenerate nerve substance had excited inflammatory hopeless miscarriage is fully to discuss the details which have change around it. Another remarkable fact was that the been supplied by those to whose hands they have entrusted muscular fibres did not exhibit the trophic changes usually its administration. In this spirit we have taken up the met with in neuritis, although in the vicinity of the diseased discussion, and in this spirit we shall carry it through. nerve-endings the muscular fibres were atrophied apparently secondary to the perineurial lesion. Professor Eichorat therefore proposes to term the condition neuritis fascians," CHILDREN’S DRESS. as denoting what he considers to be the essential feature ONCE more our parks, squares, and gardens indicate a of the change-viz., the inflammation of the nerve sheath, growing conviction that summer is at hand, this idea being and the extension therefrom to the interstitial tissue shown not merely by the soft green hues of the trees and of the muscles. He points out that similar changes in the timid fresh appearances of flowers, but also by the muscles have been described by Fraenkel in phthisis, and by sudden change of attire of the children playing about. Fur- Eisenlohr in infantile paralysis; the former raising the lined hoods are making way for light sun hats ; thick woollen question whether the ensheathing bands of connective garments are disappearing, and thinner clothing is taking tissue arose from the bloodvessels or the neurilemma. their place; gaiters are removed, and little legs exposed Eichorst does not infer that neuritis fascians is special to with a thin covering of sock. These changes, we are told, alcoholic paralysis, but that it is an important feature of it. are necessary because the children come in so heated from Certainly the clinical phenomena of " peripheral neuritis" their play. This is doubtless true, and an alteration harmonise with the occurrence of lesions within the muscles which is needful probably works no harm when the themselves, and we may direct the attention of pathologists children come home to bed or to play in rooms free to the more precise determination of such lesions, wLich in from draught. But harm may result from over-caution, all probability precede the degeneration of fibres observed from discarding capes and leggings while the body is still in the nerve trunks. The latter change has been amply warmly enveloped in fl:1nnel. The whole rationale of studied, but the former, and indeed the essential change, children’s dress is that the warmth should be evenly dis- has not as vet been much dealt with. tributed. It is at once irrational and unsafe to leave the neck, arms, and a part of the chest exposed, while warmth OFFICIAL HEALTH MEMORANDUM. of the lower portions of the body is maintained with winter IN addition to the memoranda on subjects relating toprecautions. The brisk movements of a young child will frequently counterbalance the errors of dress, by distributing health to which we recently adverted as having been issued heat to all parts through increased activity of circulation; from the Medical Department of the Local Government but when the child runs to a shady seat to rest and to Board, we have received one on the " Proceedings which cool, such clothing is full of danger. Poor children with a are advisable in Places attacked or threatened by Epibreezy covering of rags which allow of equal cooling over demics." In the document in question, Dr. Buchanan draws the whole body are much more safely clad in this season attention to the general principles which should govern all than those whose bodies are closely clothed, while arms, sanitary officers in regard to filth-removal, and he explains the desirability of liberally using chemical agents as dislegs, and neck are left exposed to the wind. infectants during any such processes which may be rendered necessary by reason of cholera or enteric fever. The ALCOHOLIC NEURITIS. need for the protection of all sources of water from risk of A NEW contribution to the histology of peripheral neuritis pollution is also referred to, and there is a special notice as has been made by Professor Eichorst uf Zurich.l The case to the liability of leaky water-pipes to act as land drains he describes is that of an habitual drunkard, who died from and to receive foul matters as well as land drainage alcoholic paralysis after six weeks’ illness. The symptoms through their leaks. This danger is very generally adbegan with incoordination and then paralysis of the legs, mitted in cases where intermittent water supplies are in followed by paralysis of the extensors of the wrist, with question, but the memorandum goes further than this, rapid wasting of the paralysed muscles, tenderness of the and points out that "such leaky pipes, running full of muscles, some cutaneous anaesthesia, abolition of reflexes, water with considerable velocity, are liable to receive, and ultimately vesical and rectal paralysis. At the post- by lateral insuction at their points of leakage, external mortem examination, no gross lesions could be seen in the matters that may be dangerous"; and it is added that nerve centres. The brain was not examined microscopically, ignorance of this fact has probably baffled many inquiries. but the cord showed some asymmetry in the anterior in cases where water services have been the means of cornua, and some recent hæmorrhages in the grey matter spreading disease. Following on this come a certain number in the dorsal region, with thickening of the bloodvessels- of injunctions as to the boiling of such waters as must be changes which did not suffice to explain the general resorted to, notwithstanding possible contamination ; the paralysis. The spinal nerve roots were found to be normal. investigation of milk supplies, with especial regard to the The tibial and radial nerves, on the other hand, were health of cows; and the paramount importance of boiling found to be profoundly diseased, osmic-acid preparations all milk at once upon its reception into a house. The various. showing very extensive degeneration and atrophy, with remedial measures to be adopted in houses and places where absence of the axis cylinders in a large proportion of the the different infectious fevers may be prevailing are next nerve fibres. Tracing the nerves to their peripheral termina- respectively set forth; and lastly comes a statement of the tions in the muscles, Professor Eichorst found the lesions to preferable methods of disinfection. For the purposes of be more advanced and complete there than in the nerve the sick room a solution of perchloride of mercury is recommended, and the same agent is suggested for use in dealing 1 Virchow’s Archiv, cxii., Hft. 2. with excreta in such cases as cholera and enteric fever. For .

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