Science.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 353, 12 February 1903, Page 2

Science.

SHINGLES. the name of shingles we yH§M mee *< ™th a bodily trouble whiob, ■ii2j|& although in the majority of cases by bo meaaa of serious character, is yet apt to be extremely painful and annoying. There can be no doubt that shingles belongs to a certain class of skin troubles of which we gain a very familiar example in the case of what people call ' oold spota.' By this term they mean to indicate the little blister-like eruptions which may often appear in the neighbourhood of the nose or the lips as a result of acquiring a severe eold. At least, in the majority of oases, to the cold is attributed the origin of the spots in question. Shingles is regarded therefore as a variety of cold spots, and the general name ' herpes' is applied by medical -men to the eruptions or appearance in question. Most of us know what,happens to ths ordinary cold spot. A blister, like vesicles, appears, each of the blisters being filled with fluid. This fluid is at first clear, whilst later on it may become of a thicker character. Finally, when the fluid is beginning to disappear, a scab may form on the top, and when this in turn drops away the cure is complete. The Natobe oi> the Ailment.

One curious fact regarding herpes in its various forms is that it seems to show that it is connected in one way or another with the tracks of nerves. For. instance, in the case of shingles, we know that the dis&ase, which affects the chest, follows the line of the nerves which lie between the ribs, so that in shingles we find the patient complaining of a trouble which therefore seems to encircle one half of the body. One meets occasionally with the notion, however propagated I know not, that if the shingles should affect both sides of the chest, and, so meeting, should form a complete circle round the body, the case would be essentially a fatal one This is, of course, an absurd and erroneous idea, and has probably arisen out of those inexplicable pieces of medical lore, the source of which is probably a mystery. The cause of shingles has generally been assumed to be cold or chill acting upon a body which has been weakened in some way or other. One must confess that this explanation is hot altogether satisfactory. We come face to face in this case once again with that interesting question of the soil and the seed. In other words, there must be something special in the oodily condition of a person who suffers from shingles, inasmuch as it is an obvious fact that everyone who is low in health and who is exposed to cold and chill does not Buffer from this disease. Some physicians, recognising that it is a particular state of body which gives rise to shingles, have suggested that a gouty or rheumatic condition of body is that most likely to give origin to this trouble. Others, again, .have supposed that shingles represent what is called 'neurosis' in medicine. That is to say, they believe that some condition of the nervous system lies at the root of the trouble. The Symptoms. Be that as it ragy, we find that the shingles, mueh the development of the cold spots, form a series of blisters, as it were, in the form of a band which, as I have said, encircles half the body. It is noticable that before the blisters appear there may be some derangement Of the general heaith. Fain will also probably be complained of in the place and along the line where the blisters develop. The blisters or patches themselves may vary in size, some only being three inches in length. Their shape inclines to the oval, but may be more or less irregular. The disease runs the usual course I have indicated in the

) common cold spot on the lip, and may last a fortnight or three weeks, gradually disappearing in . the fashion I have described. One point may he noted to the effect that when the shingles have disappeared and the patient may he said to be cared it is no uncommon thing to find that a certain amount of pain may still remain overthe part that wasaffected. This pain ie, no doubt, due to a condition which we may suppose is related to neuralgia, and probably arises from the effect which the disease has had or left on the nerve of the part. ■ : ' The Treatment.

In the case of shingles it is most advisable first of all that the patient should guard rigidly against cold, and in most cases the eruptions may be so severe that the patient finds himself happiest in bed, and existing m a state of complete rest. Many persons may not deem this latter piece of advice necessary to be followed, but we must all recognise that even in trifling diseases it is not everyone who is capable of battling with an ailment, and that the sooner it is taken in hand

and treated, by that most powerful of medicines, rest, the sooner will convalescence be established. What 'the physician will probably direct will be'care in avoiding any breaking of the blisters which form in the case of shingles. Hence we see another reason here why absolute rest is positively one of the necessary conditions for successful treatment. The parts ought to be dusted with flour, or a powder may be used, made of one part of oxide of zinc mixed with three parts of starch. The parts are in any case to be carefully covered with cottonwool, which must be kept in its place by a bandage. In some cases, collodion has been used to paint the parts with so as to protect them. This treatment, however, must be certainly applied before any of the blisters break, as it is unsuitable for their treatment in the broken condition. In other cases lotions have also been employed for the relief of the pain in shingles, and also by way of favouring their disappearance. One such lotion is made as follows: Dilute hydiocyanio acid two draetims, bicarbonic acid one drachm, glycerine six drachms, and rosewater up to six ounces. This lotion may be applied to the shingles, and must be labelled ' for external use only.' If there is much pain, fomentations may be used, these being made in the usual way with poppy heads, while in some oases the parts may be painted with a mixture of equal parts of liniments of belladonna and camphor. If there is pain along the course of the never after the shingles disappear, this may be relieved by painting che affected part with collodion, to an ounce of which ten drops of glycerine and a teaspoonful each of the liniment of aconite ana linement of belladonna have been added. This mixture must also be. labelled ' For external use only.' Scme Othee Hints.

The food of the patient suffering from shingles must be light.: It must .be nourishing, but is not to be of a stimulating character. Milk, fish, light puddings, and the like are all excellent, whilst invalid Bovril may -be given in a form of soup *s an excellent form of nourishment. Any. after treatment will resolve itself very much into the question of a suitable tonic. A quinine and iron mixture may be obtained from any chemist, and this may serve to brace up the patient's strength, whilst a change of air is also highly advisable if this measure is possible of being carried out. An excellent tonic,/not only in the.case of shingles, but generally for bracing up the body after illness, is given.