Glioma.  “Glue-tumor.”  They come from tissue forming the basis of the supporting framework of the nervous tissue.  This kind occurs often in the young.

Sarcoma and Cancer are rare.

Symptoms.—­The most of the growths start in the membranes of the brain, and by compressing a certain part of the brain they produce their special symptoms such as headache, vomiting, inflammation of the nerves of the eye, double vision, blindness, the memory impaired, dullness and apathy, an irritable temper, and sometimes become demented.  There is often vertigo or a sense of giddiness.  There may be convulsions, and paralysis of some muscles.  A general tuberculosis tendency or history of syphilis will help to make the diagnosis.  In children it is more likely to be tuberculous.  The result is more favorable in tuberculous growths in children and syphilitic tumors in adults.  It may last from a few months to three years in a bad case.

Treatment.—­For gumma, caused by syphilis, iodide of potash and mercury should be given.  In both kinds, syphilitic and tuberculous, a nutritious diet and general tonic treatment, such as cod-liver oil, iron, arsenic, and quinine should be given.  The bowels must be kept open and special attention given to the digestion.

For headache.—­Ice bags, cold to the head, mustard to the nape of the neck.

For Vomiting.—­Mustard over the stomach.  Surgery is necessary for some tumors that can be reached.  You will naturally depend upon your attending physician for advice and treatment.

Syphilis of the brain.  Causes.—­The symptoms of syphilis of the brain, belong to the third stage of the disease, and are rarely ever observed until at least one year or longer from the time of the first lesion (chancre).  It may be from ten to twenty years coming on.  Both sexes are equally liable, and it may come at any age.  Syphilis may produce a circumscribed tumor, a disease of the arteries or a general hardened infiltration of the brain.  The tumors are small, yellowish, and cheesy in the center.  They originate in the “Dura Mater” (covering) and spread to the brain structure proper.  The disease of the arteries causes a thickening of these vessels, a narrowing of the blood channel in them, thus producing a clot.

Symptoms.—­Of gumma (syphilis tumors) at the base of the brain, are persistent headache, worse at night; sleeplessness, depression of the mind, memory impaired, vertigo, sometimes vomiting and paralysis of some of the nerves (third and sixth pairs).  Violent convulsions, like epilepsy, appear in some cases.

[298 Mothers’ remedies]

Symptoms when arteries are diseased.—­Temporary loss of speech, numbness or weakness in one limb, the sight is disturbed, or vertigo; and, when the clot (thrombus) appears, symptoms of apoplexy, This is a common variety of syphilis of the brain.

How to tell what the disease is.—­The history of the patient will help.  An apoplexy in a young person would suggest syphilis.