Erysipelas (Saint Anthony's Fire) is a contagious disease due to the invasion of the tissues by the streptococcus germ, producing fever and a local redness of the skin. The inflammation of the skin may spread to deeper tissues, producing widespread necrosis and other complications occurring such as pneumonia, nephritis or meningitis. Research Erysipelas
Cartilage disks are located between the vertebrae, and serve to cushion the spinal column from shock. Each disk features an inner, pulpy center, called the nucleus pulposus, and a fibrous outer ring, called the annulus fibrosus, which is visible in a lateral view of the spine. These
intervertebral disks are easily torn or dislocated when the vertebra column is subjected to inordinate stresses, such as those encountered in lifting a heavy load improperly, or twisting the back sharply, as occurs in many sporting injuries. Such a ' slipped' disk is only one of many causes of back pain. Others include arthritis, spinal meningitis, and inflammation of a tendon or muscle. Such back problems can cause extreme pain, which may be increased by changes in the weather or poor diet, making lifting, walking, and sitting an excruciating ordeal. Since so many muscles place stress on the spine when they operate, simple activities such as going to the bathroom, coughing, laughing, and even breathing may be intolerable with such a condition. More recently, however, medical advances have enabled a number of these ailments to be alleviated and chiropracty, arthroscopic surgery, and other forms of physical therapy make much suffering unnecessary. Research Intervertebral Disks
Meningitis is an inflammation of the membrane, known as the pia mater, which covers the outer surface of the brain and spinal cord. There are several distinct types of this disease, which is caused by the entrance of germs into the membrane. The commonest of these types are as follows: 1. Cerebrospinal Fever ('Spotted Fever') caused by the Meningococcus. 2. Septic meningitis, due to invasion by the Staphylococcus and Streptococcus. 3. Tuberculous meningitis, resulting from invasion by the Tubercle Bacillus. 4. Syphilitic meningitis, caused by the Spirochaete of Syphilis. In a rigid cavity like the skull there is very little room for the accommodation of the products of inflammation, which therefore give rise to pressure on the surface of the brain and to irritation of its surface. Meningitis is a very dangerous disease, and unless treated very early it is often fatal. Research Meningitis
Septic meningitis is usually due to extension of infection to the pia mater from adjacent structures. Thus, it arises commonly from chronic infection of the middle ear, infection of the scalp, fractured skull, and bullet wounds of the head, which are common in war-time. At the time of injury the patient may merely feel upset, but deeper trouble may be taking place inside the skull. For this reason all injuries to the head, even though they may appear to be trivial, should be carefully watched. Moreover, in all cases where meningitis is suspected the ear drum should be examined. As in all forms of acutemeningitis, there is headache, vomiting and drowsiness, accompanied by high fever with rigors (attacks of shivering as the temperature rises). Later there is restlessness with delirium, and a painful stiff neck so that the head is drawn backwards. Research Septic Meningitis
Sleeping sickness (Trypartosomiasis) is caused by the Trypanosoma gambiense parasite, discovered in 1902. The disease is spread by various flies called Tsetse flies (Glossina), and the parasites live in the intestines and salivary glands of infected flies; when they bite a human being the parasite is transferred to the wound and thence to the patient's blood. The disease is confined principally to Africa and South America, where whole native districts are said to have been depopulated. An inflamed patch develops round the bite, and is followed within seven to fourteen days by fever. There is a long latent period after infection, and the onset is slow and insidious, with intermittent fever. The patient suffers from headache and weakness, and sometimes an eruption appears.
In the early stage of the disease the patient is mentally dull, the pulse is rapid and there is malaise; the spleen and glands become enlarged. The patient may recover, or the disease become chronic. After a variable period of from three months to three years, if recovery does not follow, stage two develops, with increasing weakness, fatigue, fever, tremors, slow speech, uncertain shuffling gait, neuralgia and cramps, apathy, melancholy or irritability, and vacancy of facial expression; memory and intelligence are impaired. With treatment the patient may recover even at this stage. In stage three, however, the patient sinks into a lethargic or paralytic condition, sometimes with convulsions or delirium, and is unable to speak or stand. The temperature is low, and the body is emaciated. Death is inevitable and generally occurs within eighteen months from meningitis or coma. Research Sleeping Sickness
The spinal cord is one of the primary portions of the central nervous system, serving as a medium for signals to be sent from the brain to the structures of the body, and received from them in return. Extending from the medulla oblongata, through the foramen magnum in the base of the skull, to the base of the vertebral column, the spinal cord is about half of a centimeter in diameter, and is slightly flattened. The spinal cord itself passes through the vertebral canal created by the vertebral arches, and sends out roots and branches. These structures contain bundles of nerve fibres which extend all the way down the body, innervating even the skin of the tips of the toes. The spinal cord features both efferent and afferent nerve pathways, so that nerves may be transmitted to the body's structures as well as received from them.
Paired sets of nerves branch out from the spinal cord along the vertebral column, with the lowest of these forming the sacral plexus of nerves. The sympathetic nerves travel alongside the spinal cord in the sympathetic nerve trunk, which features periodic clusters of nerves, called ganglia, which deal with specific organ groups. The spinal cord floats in a spinal fluid which protects and nourishes it and, as with the brain, is covered by a meningeal membrane composed of three layers: the pia mater, the arachnoid, and the dura mater. Damage to the spinal cord results in inability to transmit and receive nerve impulses to and from the specific area supplied by the damaged section of the spinal cord, and all sections below it, resulting in paralysis and numbness. Inflammation of the spinal covering is a condition called spinal meningitis. Research Spinal Cord
Tuberculous meningitis is most frequently met with in the second and third years of life, but may affect young adults or older people. The infection is carried to the pia mater by means of the bloodstream from some already existing focus of tuberculous infection, such as tuberculous bone disease, or tuberculous glands in the chest. The onset is usually gradual, with signs of vague and slight illness for several weeks before any definite symptoms appear. The child is noticed to be out of sorts and peevish, and neglects his amusements and play. There is headache and loss of appetite, so that he gradually loses his healthy look and grows paler and thinner. Vomiting is frequent at an early stage of the disease, and usually there is a distinct dislike of light. At a later stage stiffness occurs at the back of the neck, so that the head is pulled backwards on the shoulders - a characteristic sign of irritation of the membranes of the brain. Convulsions are common and a squint may develop. Research Tuberculous Meningitis
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Erysipelas
