Vicious circles in disease / by Jamieson B. Hurry.

  • Jamieson Boyd Hurry
Date:
1913
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Vicious circles in disease / by Jamieson B. Hurry. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Constipation may be relieved, but is followed by a more obstinate constipation requiring stronger aperients. Alcohol. Circles may result from the use of alcohol and various drugs, especially in neurotic persons : “ In a neurasthenic individual a stimulant gives temporary relief, but leaves the neurasthenia as it is or even increases it, and afterwards the neurasthenia causes an irresistible desire for the stimulant which, while it gave relief, aggravated the disorder. Therefore the substances in question cannot be considered as the only causes of the disorders mentioned, but they form a secondary link in the Vicious Circle, which always in pathology plays such an important role, the primary link being the morbid constitution.” 1 The excessive indulgence in alcohol is often followed by dilatation of the stomach associated with impaired muscular activity. This condition provokes a sense of exhaustion and disinclination for work which tempts to further indulgence. The dilatation and stasis also tend to flatulence which aggravates the dilatation : “ In this condition the stomach never contracts fully and effectively so as to expel its contents into the bowel ; hence it always contains some remnants of a meal, which ferment and cause “ wind.” This in its turn tends to inflate the stomach and itself to increase the dilatation, and thus the Vicious Circle goes on.” 2 If the misguided victim still flies to the bottle for relief, he but pursues the will-o’-the-wisp that lures to destruction. ' Tuke, Dictionary of Psychological Medicine, s. Neurasthenia; cf. also Muller, Handbuch der Neurasthenie, p. 255. 2 Horsley and Sturge, Alcohol and the Human Body, pp. 193, 205.