Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 14.djvu/466

NEtmOLOGY. 414 NEUROSIS. feature. Workers iu iiieUil, espucially lead, phos- phorus, mercury, arsenic, those subjected to in- hahition of various gases, aud those whose occupa- tion tempts them to indulge in liquors, are liable to nervous disorders. Work entailing exposure to cold or wet or increased atmospheric pressure, aud that attended by great mental strain or monotony, furnishes predisposing factors. The question of heredity in relation to nervous diseases is one of decided importance. The neu- rologist is not content to trace the identical nervous disorder in successive generations, or to note its appearance in blood relations. He prop- erly concerns himself with all the facts which tend to furnish a neuropathic liability. This is in- dicated with more or less force by the occurrence of any sort of nervous and mental disease in the antecedents of a given individual. An hysterical mother may have an epiUqitic child and an idiotic grandchild. Even a very higlily wrought nervous organization in mother and father may eventuate in unstable children. The transmission of nervous disea.se may be direct, the identical malady reappearing, or, what is more common, the defect may show itself by transformation into some allied malady. Atavistic tendencies, through which an intermediate generation es- capes, are also frequently noted. Tuberculosis, rheumatism, gout, diatietes, and Hright's disease are so commonly found in neurotic families that the association is morbidly significant. All de- bilitating diseases and exhausting conditions in parents may be rellected in nervously unstable ollspring. Consanguinity in the parents does not operate detrimentally as far as nervous dis- eases are concerned, unless, as is often the case, it brings together indiviilunls of neurotic tenden- cies, which are naturally intensified in the chil- dren. NEUROP'TEBA (Xco-I.at. nom. pi., from Gk. vevpoi', neuron, nerve + imphv, pteron, wing). A Linna-an order of insects which has recently been restricted by separating out the orders Mecoptera. Corrodentia, Isoptera, Odonata, Ephemerida. Plecoptera, and Tricho])tera. which together for a time were known as the Pseudo- neuroptera. At present the Xeuro]itcra includes those forms belonging to the old group of net- ■winged insects which possess a complete meta- morphosis. The mouth-parts are formed for biting; the wings are four in number, mem- branous, and furnished with numerous veins, usually with many cross veins. Practically all forms are carnivorous, and feed upon other in- sects. Some of them are aquatic, but the major- ity live on land and wherever their prey aboiuids. The order is divided into seven large families: (1) The Sialida'. including the dobson or hell- grammite fly (see CoRYn.vi-is) . the alder-flies (Sialis). and the fish-flies (Chatiliodes). (2) The Raphidiid:r, or snake flies (q.v.). (3) The 'Mnnti^iiid.r, including the false rear- liorses. or mantis-like Xeuroptera. These in- sects, rare in the I'nited States, have a long neck and grasping front legs, and are predatory in habits: their transformations are especially interesting. (4) The Conropterj-pidte, including the dusty- wings, which are the smallest of the Xenrnptera and have wines loveri^d with whili-'h powder. They are very few in niunber, and prey, in the larval stage, upon scale insects, plant-lice, and red spiders. (5) The ^lyrmekunida', ur ant-lions (q.v.). (U) The Hemerobiida", or aphis-lions (q.v.). (7) The ChrysopidiB, or golden-eyed lace- winged flies. See Lacewing. Xearly all the families of Neuroptcran insects are represented by fossil remains in the Tertiary rocks; and some, such as the dragon-Hies, cad- dice-ilies, ilay-llies, and white ants, appear in the still earlier ilcsozoic formations. Consult: Conistock, Maniiiil for Die Htudy of Insects (Ithaca, 1895) ; Sharp, Vamhridtje Satu- nil Histonj. vol. v. (London, 18!)5) ; lloward, The liistct'Bool: (ew York, 1902), NEtTROP'TEBIS (Xeo-Lat., from Gk, veSpov, neuron, nerve -|- irrepls, picris, fern). An im- portant genus of fossil ferns common in the coal measure shales and sandstones of Car- boniferous age in Xorth America and Europe. See Fek.n : and Carhoxifkboi's System. NEURO'SIS (Xeo-Lat., from Gk. veOpov, neu- 1011, nerve). A morbid nervous stale, either functional (due to rellex disturbance from a lesion or a condition in another part of the'body) or organic (due to local conditions). Xcuroses are classed as Icincsio-neiiroses, or disorders of motion; a-sthesio-nciiroses, or sensoxy disorders; troiihoiuuroses, or disorders of nutrition; fhermo-neuroses, or disorders of heat perception; vasomotor neuroses or amjlo-neuroses, or dis- orders of circulation; sccretonj neuroses: and mixed neuroses^ Among the latter are the aero- neuroses, certain disorders aliocting the ex- tremities, such as acro-par:esthesia and erythro- melalgia; sexual neuroses, atTecting the functions of the sexual organs; and psycho-neuroses, in which there is a combination ' of mental and physical symptoms due to a complex condition. Dana classifies conveniently the functional ner- vous diseases that are termed neuroses as fol- lows: (1) Degenerative neuroses, including epi- lepsy, hysteria, the spasmodic tics, paramyoclo- nus, Tiiomsen's disease, paramyotonia, and akinesia algera. (2) Acquired neuroses, in- cluding chorea, tetanus, tetany, neurasthenia, sexual neuroses, traumatic neuroses, exophthal- mic goitre, and the occupation neuroses. (.3) Late degenerative neuroses, including paralysis agitans. (4) Trophic and vasomotor neuroses, including facial hemiatrophy, acromegaly, and angioneurotic (pdema, ^Many of these functional neuroses are considered under their projier titles. The occupation neuroses are functional dis- orders consisting of numbness, tingling, partial loss of nuLscular power, involuntary contractions or spasms, tremor and disability, which combine to ])revent the ise of certain groups of nuisdes which have been u.sed habitually by the patient in his occupation or professional labors. An occupation neurosis is re.tlly a condition of muscle-fatigue occurring in a neurasthenic, with subsequent neuritis in a few cases. The most common neurosis of this class is writers' cramp, or scriveners' palsy. This disease has been known since aboit 1820. when the steel pen superseded the quill. Men. aged about twenty- five to forty years, are the most numerous vic- tims. Worry, intemperance, and other under- mining influences arc predi-jposing catises, as well as preexisting neura-^thenia, as already noted. Kcc»~ive writing, iimlcr mental pressure, is the exciting caiise. eiiiecially if the writing is done with the hand in a cramped position. Tt is a chronic disease. Manv sufferers learn to