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Two rather mysterious diseases have become a source of anxiety lately. These are dystrophy and myasthenia gravis. Evidence indicates that these may be autoimmune diseases."
Muscular Dystrophy is a tragic disease in children in which a normal child suddenly becomes clumsy, falls frequently and then progressively loses the use of muscles, thus becoming entierly helpless. The muscles appear enlarged due to large fat deposits while the actual fibres atrophy and the contractile function becomes ineffective.
In myasthenia gravis, the skeletal muscles become extremely weak. Facial muscles are first affected and the condition spreads to other muscles until victim is incapacitated.
V. Disorders of the Joints
The movements of the elderly people may be accompanied by clearly audible clicks, snaps and creakings (hence the cliche "creaking joints”). Degenerative changes in the joints, that develop with age, include a reduction of the secretion of lubricating synovial fluid, replacement of flexible cartilage by unelastic bone, and the formation of bony spurs around joints, which make movements quite painful. In addition, the joints, at any age, are vulnerable to a variety of injuries and ills.
Sprain, Dislocation, Fracture
Sprain is the injury caused by a sudden wrenching of a joint which may tear or stretch its attachments. It is accompanied by swelling, redness and pain.
Dislocation, a more serious condition than a sprain, is a displacement of one of the bones or an internal derangement of the parts. The shoulder and knee are most vulnerable to this disorder. A shoulder dislocation can be cor
1. See chapter No. 7 for autoimmune diseases.
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