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MEDICAL.
A. B. C.—Writer’s cramp is a name given to a peculiar form of nervous disease of the right arm and hand met with, almost exclusively, in writers. The disease belongs to that class of afflictions called “habit spasms,” other examples of which are histrionic spasm, commonly called “stage strike,” “musical stammering,” and some forms of true stammering. Of the cause of writer’s cramp we know this much, that it occurs mainly in writers; that it is far more common in men than in women; that it sometimes occurs in persons who are run down in health; that it is more common among the members of neurotic families, and that it is most frequent in those writers who use their wrists and little fingers as the “fulcrum” when writing. It is very uncommon among type-writers. There are many types of the complaint. In some forms weakness or paralysis of the muscles of the right hand is the most marked feature; in other cases twitchings, cramps, or numbness are the leading symptoms. The treatment for the affection is perfectly simple, but, like most simple treatments, it is very rarely that it is carried out. It is absolute rest from writing. The disease is cured by absolute rest. Where this treatment is impossible, rest till all symptoms have subsided, and then gradually taking to writing again, is the next best thing. But the complaint is exceedingly likely to recur. Learning to write with the left hand, nothing like such a difficult proceeding as you would think, has frequently been tried for the trouble; sometimes with great success, but not infrequently the disease attacks the left hand also. Massage, galvanism, and other such measures are sometimes used, but their effects are doubtful, and they appear to have but little action. The same may be said of strychnine and other nervine tonics. Of drugs the most useful are malt, cod-liver oil, and suchlike foods. Writer’s cramp is a serious disease to writers, and, moreover, it is one which they can never escape from if they must still continue in their employment. It is far better to throw over their writing at once, than wait till they are obliged to do so by the disease crippling them.
Poor Humpback.—The deformity resulting from tubercular disease of the spine cannot be remedied. Indeed, the deformity is the remedy for the effects of the mischief. For in this condition the tubercle germs have destroyed some of the bones of the back, and the only way by which the strength of the backbone is maintained is by the falling together of the bones above and below the seat of the trouble, and this, of necessity, produces shortness and deformity.
Pink May.—You should not wash your hair too often; if it is healthy, once a month is quite sufficiently frequent.
Muriel.—It is indeed a difficult matter to clear a complexion “disfigured by innumerable freckles,” but still we can do a little to render the marks less noticeable. Freckles are small patches of pigment. We know there are fair and dark complexions, and a freckled complexion is one which is both fair and dark in patches. One of the greatest causes of excess of pigment in the skin is light, and we all know how likely we are to get freckled or browned after being in a strong sun. It is not the heat, but the light of the sun which forms the pigment in the skin, and the bluer the light the more rapidly it will form pigment. Light reflected from water is especially potent in the formation of both browning and freckles. If you want to escape freckles you must therefore keep out of the light, and you can do this by wearing a red veil or using a red parasol. It is said that freckles can be bleached with peroxide of hydrogen, but we have not seen much benefit from its use. Glycerine and lime-water is also said to remove freckles.