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Indiana University Studies 



enforcement there are fewer drug addicts. There has been a 

 forced cure in many places, by the gradual reduction method, 

 drugs being obtained only thru dispensaries, hospitals, or certain 

 physicians appointed by law. The after-care of these cases is very 

 important if they are to return to normal, useful living. They 

 have had an abnormal mental outlook, and must be furnished 

 now with wholesome environment and such associations as will 

 stimulate healthy thinking and living. Suitable and pleasant 

 occupations will go far in accomplishing this. 



Cases of Sydenham's chorea (a disease of the cerebral hemi- 

 spheres) occur usually in children and are caused by infection 

 frequently traced to the tonsils. Its symptoms are the lack of 

 muscular control giving rise to involuntary, irregular, and unpur- 

 poseful movements of the arms and hands, the legs, and often the 

 face. There is usually sleeplessness also and excessive irritability. 

 Children in such a condition must be excluded from school, per- 

 haps required to take rest in bed and given a simple but nourish- 

 ing diet. If the disease is properly treated in its early stages 

 and the source of infection removed whenever possible, gradual 

 recovery is begun at once. However, too often, parents do not 

 recognize the disease at its onset or do not attach sufficient 

 importance to it to seek medical advice. It continues and grows 

 worse ; the infection reaches the heart and does serious and last- 

 ing damage or affects the joints and causes rheumatism. The 

 social worker can help liere first by calling parents' attention 

 to the disease and persuading them to secure medical care for 

 their children. She can then insist upon the carrying out of the 

 doctor's orders. This is not an easy thing to do, as the parents, 

 tho well-meaning, often allow sentiment to overcome common 

 sense and do not force the child to submit to the prescribed 

 treatment. It is true that the child is often difficult to control. 

 He is petulant, cross, given to fits of temper and to crying spells. 

 However, overcome the disease and the child will regain his good 

 disposition. 



Huntington's chorea is perhaps more closely related to the 

 insanities. It is hereditary thru the female line, is incurable, 

 and leads to mental deterioration. It typically appears first in 

 middle life. All of it which exists in the United States today is 

 believed to have been transmitted from one family which settled 

 in the New Haven colony. Institutional care should be provided 

 for all cases of this disease and prevention of marriage of indi- 

 viduals afflicted with it, that it may be stamped out. 



