[Nervous system 293]

Direct Causes.—­Straining at stool, heavy lifting, anger, rage, fright, etc.; paroxysm of whooping-cough or convulsions may cause it in children.

Symptoms.—­Sometimes the patient experiences headache, dizziness, paleness or flushing of the face, fullness in the head, ringing in the ears, etc., temporary attacks of numbness or peculiar tingling in one-half of the body.  When the bleeding takes place there is usually loss of consciousness.  In the attack:—­If the bleeding is extensive the patient falls suddenly into coma, and this may soon prove fatal.  If the bleeding is slight at first and gradually increases, the patient is delirious at first, then one arm, then one side, and finally the whole body may become paralyzed, and unconsciousness, and even death may come from the paralysis of the heart and breathing nerve centers.  In many cases the patient falls unconscious without previous warning.  The face is red, the eyes injected, the lips are blue, the pulse is full and slow, and the breathing is slow and deep.  The head and eyes may be strongly turned to the injured side.  The pupils may be unequal.  The paralysis may not be noticed while the patient is unconscious and is quiet.  The urine and the bowels contents may pass involuntarily or the urine may be retained.  Sometimes when the case is very grave the patient does not awake from his deep sleep (coma); the pulse becomes very feeble, respiration becomes changed, mucus collects in the throat, and death may occur in a few hours or days.  In other cases the clot in the brain is gradually absorbed, and the patient slowly returns to consciousness.  Sometimes relapses occur.  In mild cases instead of deep coma, there may be only headache, faintness, nausea and vomiting.

Subsequent Symptoms.—­When the patient improves, consciousness returns, but there remains a half-side paralysis, hemiplegia, on the side and opposite to that of the seat of the injury in the brain.  It may not take in the whole side, only a part.  The gait is peculiar.  In walking the patient supports the paralyzed arm.  In many cases the paralyzed parts gradually regain their functions in a few weeks, but not always complete.  The leg improves more than the arm.  There is danger of other attacks.  When the sleep (coma) is very deep, the breathing is embarrassed, with vomiting and prolonged half-consciousness and extension and complete paralysis, the danger to life is great.

What can I do at once?  Loosen the clothing around the neck and waist.  Raise the head and shoulders and put cold to the head (ice bag if you have it) and warmth to the feet, legs and hands.  Watch the bladder closely.  The urine must be drawn frequently in this disease, especially if there is much paralysis.  It may dribble away, but that is not enough.  Look out for bed sores, especially if the sickness is a long one.

[294 Mothers’ remedies]