312 APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY 



brain, especially in its motor region. Then the pressure 

 of the escaped blood injures or destroys some of the brain 

 cells. This constitutes apoplexy, or a stroke of paralysis. 

 There is usually unconsciousness for a time, followed by 

 paralysis of some limb and of speech. Recovery is usually 

 slow and imperfect. If the medulla is affected, death 

 quickly results. Confusion of speech, dizziness, and tin- 

 gling in a limb usually precede an attack for some days. 

 When a person is taken with a stroke of apoplexy, he 

 should be kept very quiet, with his head raised, so that the 

 blood will flow through the brain as gently as possible. 



570. Fits. If the cells of the motor region of the brain are irri- 

 tated, as by a sliver of bone or a blood clot, they may send impulses at 

 intervals to produce violent movements of the muscles. This is called 

 a convulsion or a^/. An operation for the removal of the substance 

 which presses upon the cells will relieve the fits. 



In young children, irritation of indigestible food in the intestine or 

 of the poisons of fevers may cause the spinal cord or motor region to 

 send out reflex orders and so produce a convulsion or fit. Convulsions 

 in a child can be stopped by immersing it in a tub of very warm water. 

 Then something to clear out its intestine should be given so as to re-^ 

 move the cause of the convulsions. In all forms of convulsions there 

 is little suffering, for the person is wholly unconscious. 



Convulsions may come without warning and produce entire uncon- 

 sciousness for a minute or two, when they cease, and the person is ap- 

 parently none the worse for it. This trouble is called epilepsy or Jits. 



During the fit there is no danger except that a person may bite his 

 tongue. So the only thing to be done is to stuff a handkerchief into 

 his mouth so as to crowd the tongue away from the teeth. Excitement 

 is liable to bring on fits in a person subject to them. 



571. Panics. In times of bodily or financial danger, where many 

 are assembled, a single person may infect the whole audience with an 

 insane fear. Then each person thinks only of his own safety, and 

 many are sure to be trampled upon and injured. In such a time a 

 single cool head will do much to calm the excitement. Fire drills in 

 school teach the pupils to be orderly in the face of danger. 



