Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XV.djvu/283

 SPINAL DISEASES SPINNING 271 gait of the latter; and although it has some symptoms in common with general paralysis of the insane, the totality of them will enable a diagnosis to be made. The prognosis is ex- tremely unfavorable ; very few cases ever cease progressing, and fewer still recover. The most that can be hoped for is that the disease will remain stationary or progress slowly. Some- times it develops rapidly, but generally years elapse before the fatal termination, and in most cases death is produced by some intercurrent affection. The most marked pathological con- dition is induration or sclerosis of the posterior columns of the spinal cord, involving the gray substance and the roots of the posterior nerves. The sclerosis is an abnormal development of the connective tissue, and produces atrophy and degeneration of the nerve fibres. Among the most frequent causes of progressive loco- lotor ataxia are exposure to wet and cold, me- lanical injuries, and syphilis. Severe blows id falls, and the concussion produced by rail- " collisions and similar shocks, often occa- sion that congested condition of the spinal )rd which ends in locomotor ataxia. Exces- ive and continued mental exertion, and anxiety T grief, by producing a hypersemic condition of the brain and spinal cord, sometimes bring the disease, especially if there is a constitu- ional fault. Excessive indulgence in the sex- passion has been regarded as a frequent ise, but some revision of opinion will need be made on this point. The irritable condi- tion of the cord often produces a morbid sexual " 3sire which has not previously been charac- jristic of the patient, and in which he has not lordinately indulged, and many are now in- " led to believe that the cause in question has 3n overrated. Males are more often affected lan females. Of GO cases analyzed by Carre, were males and 18 females. It is especially disease of middle life, between the ages of and 50, although it sometimes occurs before ), and Trousseau reports a case in a patient years old. The disease is sometimes asso- with general paralysis of the insane, >metimes one and sometimes the other dis- appearing first. There is no particular )lan of treatment established. In Europe and this country success has seemed to attend le employment of the interrupted galvanic irrent (faradization), and cases are reported having been benefited by the continuous irrent of a powerful battery. (See MEDICAL IOITY.) Long continued and well regu- ited gymnastic exercises were successfully em- loyed by Eisenmann in two out of six cases. " iodide and the bromide of potassium are meficial. Counter-irritation with blisters, is- les, and cautery has been found of no avail, federate exercise and a well regulated nutri- ious diet, to promote as much as possible the lealthy assimilation of tissue, should be re- rded as a main indication. Galvanism prom- ts to be a powerful adjunct, but time is still required to measure its importance. 758 YOL. xv. 18 SPINDLER, Karl, a German novelist, born in Breslau, Oct. 16, 1796, died at Freiersbach, Baden, July 12, 1855. He was educated at Strasburg, joined in Germany a company of strolling players, and resided from 1832 at Baden-Baden. His reputation rests on his historical romances, Der Bastard (3 vols., Zu- rich, 1826), Der Jude (4 vols., Stuttgart, 1827), Der Jesuit (3 vols., 1829), and Der Invalide (5 vols., 1831). His complete works include 102 volumes (1831-'54), besides minor novels contained in his periodical publication Vergiss- meinnicht (1830-'55). SPINE. See SKELETON, and SPINAL DISEASES. SPINEL (Fr. spinelle), a mineral, sometimes ranked among the precious stones, occurring in regular octahedrons and dodecahedrons, va- riously modified ; hardness, 8 ; specific gravity, 3*5 to 4'9. The color is commonly some shade of red, but is sometimes blue, green, yellow, brown, black, and rarely almost white. "When pure, it is a compound of magnesia 28, alumina 72 ; but the magnesia is often replaced to some extent by one or more of the protoxides of iron, zinc, or manganese, or by lime, and the alumina also by peroxide of iron ; hence the numerous varieties of the species. These are denominated according to their colors, and some among them are often supposed to belong to other species. The black varieties are called pleonaste; the scarlet, spinel ruby; the rose red, balas ruby; the yellow, or orange red, rubicelle ; the violet, almandine ruby ; and the green, ceylonite. The goutte de sang of the jewellers is of blood-red or cochineal color. The mineral is infusible before the blowpipe alone, and is not attacked by acids. The most valuable spinels are found in Ceylon, Siam, and other eastern countries, in the form of rolled pebbles in river beds. They are also found in New Jersey, New York, and central Massachusetts. Perfect specimens fit for jew- elry are rare ; if of more than four carats, they are sometimes rated as worth half as much as diamonds of equal size. The red varieties are said to be sold for true rubies, from which they are with difficulty distinguished ; and many of the others are often confounded with other precious stones of similar hardness and specific gravity. The optical properties alone may decide without analysis between the colorless spinel and the limpid topaz of Siberia, Dufr6- noy was obliged to apply the test of polariza- tion of light to a white cut spinel from India, which was supposed to be either a diamond or a white emerald. He describes one of a clear crimson with a violet tint, weighing 1,129 grains, of great beauty, valued at 100,000 to 110,000 francs. SPINK, a S. E. county of Dakota, recently formed and not included in the census of 1870 ; area, about 800 sq. m. It is intersect- ed by the Dakota or James river. The sur- face is rolling. SPINNING. See COTTON MANTTFACTUKE, LIN- EN, ROPE, and WOOL, MANUFACTURES OF.