Fits & Facts

The 600,000 epileptics in the U.S. have a better chance of leading normal life than ever before. Such is the optimistic opinion of two top-flight experts in epilepsy: Dr. Wilder Penfield, head of the Montreal Neurological Institute, and Dr. Theodore Charles Erickson of the University of Wisconsin. Last week they published the scientific reasons for this belief in an authoritative text on epilepsy (Epilepsy and Cerebral Localization; C. C. Thomas; $8).

Head to Toe. Although any one of many body disturbances can hasten epilepsy, its essential cause is some damage to the grey matter of the brain, whether by tumor, abscess, infection, gunshot wound, shell splinters, or other accidents. Certain clusters of brain cells discharge electrical impulses to the muscles at an abnormal rate. This produces writhing and twitching. A tendency toward epilepsy runs in families; this may be due to some small quirk in the brain formation, together with an abnormal metabolism, faulty water balance, etc. Since electroencephalograms (charts of the electric waves discharged from the brain) can detect epileptic tendencies, some epilepsy experts suggest that all young couples about to be married have their heads examined.

Which muscles are first involved in epileptic fits depends on which section of the brain is injured; there are dozens of different patterns of epilepsy, ranging all the way from tooth grinding to stiffening of the feet. Exactly what starts a fit no one knows. Apparently there is a rush of blood to the brain accompanied by a flood of nerve impulses.

It is difficult to stop a fit once it starts. But several drugs, taken over a long period of time, can cut down the number and force of convulsions, even eliminate them entirely. The drugs include the barbiturates, a promising new drug called sodium diphenyl hydantoinate (Dilantin), and the old-fashioned bromides. The last have one great drawback: in indiscriminate doses they cause "intoxication," skin rashes, hallucinations. A high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet has also brought excellent results, say the doctors, but it is unpleasant to take. In many cases hard exercise cuts down fits. If the fits are caused by brain tumors, or accidental injuries, they can sometimes be cured by surgery.

Most epileptics who are in institutions are of below normal intelligence. But many of those who are out in the world, according to Dr. Erickson's wife. Psychologist Mary Rachel Harrower-Erickson, are brilliant, ambitious, successful. The old notion of an "epileptic personality," distinguished by lying, cheating, selfishness, cruelty, is false. If their brain damage is not too severe, epileptics are just like other people.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.