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Home Medical and Vet Remedies, as Recommended by 19th and 20th century Doctors and Vets! |
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Home Medical and Vet Remedies, as Recommended by 19th and 20th century Doctors and Vets! |
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Paralysis.In order to understand the conditions which cause paralysis, we must remember the conditions which must exist in order that a part of the body can be moved at will. Movement is, of course, performed by the contraction of muscle ; but this muscle does not contract of itself. Under natural conditions a contraction of the voluntary muscles occurs only under the influence of nervous force. This originates in the nerve centers - especially in the brain and spinal cord - and is conducted along the nerve, just as electricity passes along the wire. When this nervous force reaches the muscle, contraction occurs and the part is moved. In order, therefore, that a voluntary movement shall occur, it is necessary that the nervous force shall be manufactured ; that is, that the brain or spinal cord must be in a healthy condition. Secondly, it is essential that the nerve leading from the brain to the muscle shall be sound ; if this be injured in any way, the force which is produced in the brain is interrupted in its passage along the nerve, just as the electric current is interrupted if the conducting wire be cut ; and finally, the muscle itself must be in a condition to respond to the influence of this nervous force. It is evident, therefore, that paralysis - that is, loss of motion - may result from any one of three causes : first, disease or injury of the brain or spinal cord ; second, disease or injury of the nerve ; third, disease or injury of the muscle. In various diseases we have illustrations of these different causes of paralysis ; thus, in apoplexy a portion of the brain is destroyed and a portion of the patient's body is paralyzed, though the muscles and the nerves of the paralyzed part remain uninjured. In certain cases a nerve of the arm for instance is cut or injured by a wound, paralysis of the muscles to which this nerve runs is a consequence, although the brain and the muscle itself are uninjured. Then, again, the muscle itself sometimes becomes incapable of contracting, as in the disease known as wasting palsy, which has just been described. In this case there is paralysis, although the brain and the nerve remain intact. Whenever therefore a patient is paralyzed, it becomes necessary to ascertain what part of the apparatus is at fault; whether the paralysis results from disease of the brain, so that no nervous force is generated ; or whether the nerve going to the part is injured, so that the nervous force cannot be conveyed to the muscle ; or whether finally the muscle itself is diseased, so that it fails to respond to the nervous influence. Paralysis therefore is a symptom of a disease rather than a disease itself. As to the paralysis of sensation, it will not be necessary to enter into any detailed discussion. Sensation, like motion, may be lost in anyone of three ways: injury to the brain, injury to the nerve, injury to the skin of the part affected. In many cases sensation and motion are transmitted by different nerves ; that is to say, there may be paralysis of motion in consequence of injury to a given nerve, while the sensibility of the part remains unimpaired ; in the same way the sensibility may be lost while the part can be moved without difficulty. Paralysis receives different names according to the part of the body which is paralyzed, and according to the nerve which is injured. It sometimes happens that an entire half of the body - one side of the face, one arm, one side of the body, and one leg - will be paralyzed, while the other side remains intact. This condition is technically termed - Hemiplegia. 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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