Word: spinal
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Dates: during 1930-1939
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Aeroembolism. After rapid ascent to high altitudes a pilot may be attacked by sickness similar to the dread staggers, bends, or caisson disease of divers. Cause of "aeroembolism" is formation of nitrogen bubbles in the blood and spinal fluid. Symptoms are neuritis, joint pains, a heavy red rash, burning and stabbing pain in the lungs, a weird tingling "like a small compact colony of ants rushing madly over the surface of the body." For aeroembolism, only thing to do is come down in a hurry...
Purpose of his operation is to prevent this "reverse action" of the sympathetic system, and short-circuit erratic nerve impulses rushing to the heart. After exhaustive study, and drafting of innumerable blueprints, he decided to cut through the third, fourth and fifth ribs close to the spinal column, snip free and short-circuit the four nerves of the sympathetic system (between the second and fifth vertebrae) which lead directly to the heart. With exquisite care Dr. Raney avoided damaging other surrounding tissues, left enough nerves intact so that the patient could feel the "warning signal" of angina. Thus, although free...
When a syphilitic has harbored spirochetes for 15 or 20 years, they finally, migrate to his brain or spinal cord. He finds that his knees buckle under him, his hands jump, he cannot turn or close his eyes without falling. Faced with madness or paralysis, he is generally willing to undergo any heroic measure to set his world straight again. One of the best treatments for neurosyphilis (including tabes dorsalis, general paresis) is injections of tryparsamide, a penetrating arsenic compound. Tryparsamide has one tremendous drawback: it sometimes injures, sometimes destroys, the optic nerve, produces flickering vision, a narrow range...
Pain and Tumors. About half of the Institute's 3,200 annual patients require operations for brain or spinal-cord tumors. A great proportion of these operations are performed by strong, sociable Dr. Byron Stookey in the green-tiled operating room domed with a glass observers' balcony. Sleepy-green nonreflecting arc lamps designed by Dr. Stookey spotlight the site of operation, but cast no shadow, generate little heat. Dr. Stookey performs scores of operations for the relief of "intractable" pain. Victims of agonizing, incurable cancer, for example, can usually have their last days made easy by a simple...
...psychologist conducts his researches on animal intelligence by noting how rats run through a maze. If you were a psychologist, and got hold of a race of rats showing high susceptibility to constipation, fallen arches, varicose veins, stomach ulcers, hernia, sagging viscera, poor circulation, crooked and decaying teeth, spinal curvature, sacroiliac trouble, bad tonsils and audible adenoids, you would undoubtedly find this afflicted race much more stupid at maze running than normal, healthy rats. You would conclude that rats with the best biological endowment are the most intelligent rats, and that your afflicted, stupid rat race was headed toward...