A text-book on hygiene and pediatrics from a chiropractic standpoint

by J. H. Craven

Excessive Quantity of Urine

In some incoördinations there is abnormal thirst which results in the child drinking more water than is required for the normal bodily processes. The natural channel through which this excessive amount of water is excreted is through the kidneys. This results in the bladder being filled often, which necessitates the frequent passing of urine. The child might be able to control the bladder during waking hours and make his wants known; but in sleep, as the bladder becomes full, Innate would relax the sphincter muscle, which would allow the urine to escape in order to relieve the pressure. To overcome the nocturnal enuresis in a case of this kind, it is necessary to adjust for the cause of the excessive thirst; and when this is corrected, the bed wetting will cease.

Incoördinations of the Bladder

Abnormal conditions of the bladder will cause difficulty in retaining the urine for a normal length of time. An inflammation of the bladder is greatly exaggerated by the presence of urine, therefore an irritation would be set up which would result in a desire to empty the bladder. This would invariably result in nocturnal enuresis. An interference with the transmission of motor mental impulses to the sphincter muscle would be another cause for bed wetting. In this case, it would be impossible to retain the urine after a certain amount had passed into the bladder. This would result in enuresis, since there would be nothing to prevent the urine from passing freely from the bladder.

Irritation of the Genital Organs

In some cases there is an irritation of the genital organs resulting in the production of vibrations which, when the child is asleep, results in enuresis. This irritation may be produced by an adherent prepuce. Balanitis and phimosis are also quite common conditions. There may be an irritation of the rectum produced by pin-worms. Vaginal irritation may be the result of vulvovaginitis, or due to adherent clitoris.

Correction of the Condition

It is asserted by some that nocturnal enuresis in many cases is due largely to habit. We see no more reason for considering this condition a habit than for considering any other abnormal condition a habit. It is the result of interference with the transmission of mental impulses, and it is the duty of the chiropractor to find the condition to which nocturnal enuresis is adaptative and correct the cause of that condition.

Some parents have the idea that bed wetting is a habit, and the child should be punished in an effort to break him of the habit. This, however, is the wrong attitude and no good will be accomplished in this manner. Punishment will only tend to make the child nervous and the condition worse.

This condition yields so easily to Chiropractic adjustments that there is no reason for allowing a child to continue without relief from this most annoying condition. We have never seen a case that did not respond to adjustments after the proper analysis was obtained.