The Cause

The primary causes of locomotor ataxia are depletion of the nervous forces by excessive sexual indulgence and the excessive use of narcotics and stimulants, and at the same time a lack of such food as contains the nutritive elements that will supply the vital forces that are thus being exhausted. Whenever there is an excessive expenditure of muscular and nervous vitality, coupled with failure to rebuild these forces with proper nutrition, the natural consequence is decline and paralysis. The one thus afflicted usually labors under conditions of easy excitement, and, the body being constantly overstimu-lated, false or abnormal appetite is induced. This extra amount of food constitutes an excess of waste matter which produces a constant accumulation of toxic (poisonous) substances throughout the system, and the heavy drains made upon the vital forces already mentioned, render the body less able to throw off these poisons. The body, being thus attacked simultaneously from two sources, gradually breaks down.

The leading doctors and medical books acknowledge that accumulated poisons in the body are a secondary cause of locomotor ataxia, but they endeavor to remove these poisons by the introduction of other poisons, such as mercury, which is known to cause optic nerve atrophy; iodid of potassium, which deranges digestion and causes intense gastro-intestinal irritation, vomiting, diarrhea, and often a total collapse of intestinal peristalsis; arsenic, one of the greatest irritants to the mucous surfaces of the body, besides being a high stimulant and reactionary narcotic. Nitrate of silver is another standard remedy recommended by medical books. This powerful drug coagulates the albumin in both the food and the body, causing abdominal pain, vomiting, and purging. Morphin is another remedy, the terrible effects of which are well known.

Old school treatment.

Results of old school treatment.

The poisonous drugs herein named are recommended by the medical profession in their standard treatises on locomotor ataxia, while in other of their reference books they give the effects on the body of these same drugs. The logical result of such poisons taken into the system would be to prevent it from throwing off the poisons which they believe to be a primary cause of locomotor ataxia, but which in reality is a secondary cause. Thus the old school physicians have not only been unable to effect a cure, but have made the malady worse, hence locomotor ataxia is pronounced incurable. The principal thing I wish to impress upon the mind of the practitioner, by a recitation of these facts, is that the remedies employed by the old school physicians are not only worthless, but harmful, and instead of possessing curative power, they hinder and prevent Nature from reconstructing the cell in her own primitive way.

Locomotor Ataxia - The Symptoms

One or more of the following symptoms are always experienced in the early stages of locomotor ataxia:

The vision at times is uncertain, one object appearing as two, especially at a long distance. In the morning the feet will feel covered as if with a heavy woolen blanket. The floor will seem unlevel, usually sloping forward, which is likely to cause the victim to halt suddenly for fear of falling forward. The estimate, or sense of distance, becomes much impaired. An object or a wall twenty feet distant will appear to be within easy reach of the hand.

These symptoms are usually experienced in the morning, immediately on rising, and are likely to be felt again during the day after a heavy meal.

All symptoms may disappear when under the influence of stimulants, only to reappear later in a more pronounced way.

Locomotor Ataxia - The Remedy

The remedy for locomotor ataxia lies first in removing the primary causes.

The patient should abstain from all stimulants, narcotics and drugs of every character whatsoever, and especially from sexual indulgence. These sources of exhaustion having ceased, the patient should subsist upon foods containing an excess of proteids and albuminoids, with just enough carbohydrates to balance the daily menu.

The following diet is a mere suggestion, subject to change in order to meet the conditions of temperature, age, and activity.

Immediately on rising, the patient should take a few spoonfuls of strained orange juice and drink a cup of hot water. He should also devote a few minutes to deep breathing, and such moderate exercises as he is able to endure.

Breakfast

The whites of four eggs and the yolks of two (If digestion is good, the whites of six eggs may be taken - one yolk to each two whites)

A glass of milk.

A tablespoonful of nuts.

One very ripe banana with cream.

Three or four dates.

Luncheon

Three or four eggs whipped eight minutes; to each egg add one teaspoonful of lemon juice, and a heaping teaspoonful of sugar; whip this mixture into a quart of milk; drink slowly

Dinner

Smelts, or any small fish

A Spanish onion, baked in casserole dish

Corn bread

Buttermilk or skimmed milk

One fresh vegetable, cooked plain

Value of exercise and massage

In addition to this diet, there should be a regular daily schedule of exercise and deep breathing, which the patient should be required to carry out with rigid precision and regularity.

In nearly all cases of locomotor ataxia the body is unable to cast off the generated poisons, or used-up tissue, the result being that the new building material (food) taken in is not appropriated. This condition of atrophy must be overcome by exercise, massage, fomentation (wrapping the patient in a hot, wet blanket), or by anything that will induce excessive superficial circulation.

If one afflicted with locomotor ataxia can be induced to arise from his lethargy and exert himself, following the methods herein suggested, a gradual increase in strength is very likely to be experienced inside of two or three months, and total recovery may be expected in process of time.

The writer had a patient, a retired ship captain, who came under his treatment after suffering for twelve years with locomotor ataxia, and after twelve months declared himself cured. The only evidence remaining of his former condition at this writing is shown when he attempts to turn around suddenly, and his control of the lumbar and motor muscles are undergoing such improvement that even this symptom, it seems, will finally disappear.

In Cases Of Locomotor Ataxia, Omit

Drugs of every character Intoxicants Sex indulgence Stimulants and narcotics

Eat

Carbohydrates - limited quantity Corn hominy Dates, figs, honey

Rice Rye.