St. Louis Post-Dispatch from St. Louis, Missouri • Page 41

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH J. 21, 1972 3d W. How Families Can Help Stroke Victims The New Films "I find out what is the most important' thing the patient wants do Exciting Chase Yarn ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING and breathtaking chase films ever made is director William Friedkin's "THE FRENCH CONNECTION," a tale of the adventures of two real-life narcotics cops in New York City By Olivia Skinner LAST OF THREE ARTICLES DISTRAUGHT FAMILIES of stroke patients often need help almost as much as the sick man. Miss Evelyn Bonander is now associate director of the social work department of Washington University Medical Center.

But she was often called in to counsel stroke patients and their families when she was a social worker in the Irene Walter Johnson Rehabilitation Center at the university. "The first thing I did was to therapists and social workers, that is so unflagging and relentless in its pace and tensions that it leaves the viewer exhausted at the end. The film, which will probably be rated one of the best of the year here, is showing at the STADIUM CINEMA II, CROSS KEYS, ST. ANN and SUNSET CINEMA II. 12-- t- The picture opens with the cold-blooded murder of a French narcotics inspector in Marseilles, then flashes to a chase in Brooklyn by the two American narcotics detectives after a knife-wielding drug-pusher who is pistol-whipped into submission when he slashes one of them.

The American detectives, played with hard, unprettied realism by Gene Hackman and Roy Scheider, are mean, tough, ruthless, rough with suspects, bitter and uncommonly brave. To see them walk into a Harlem bar and, shoving, barking and bullying, line up 30 to 40 addict suspects against the wall, is to see how really nasty they can get. They live for their work. Even stopping by a plush East Side club for a few drinks on their way home they spend their time looking over the big spenders and their flashy women. They dislike one man particularly, and decide to tail him.

The trail leads disappointingly to a tiny Brooklyn candy store, but they persist with bulldog tenacity, even though discouraged by their superiors, who believe they are wasting their time on a nickel-and-dime crook. So the trail leads to the discovery of 112 pounds of pure heroin, the largest cache ever smuggled into the United States in one shipment, up to that time, in the splash-pans of a Lincoln Continental belonging to a visiting French television star. One chase follows another a comic one tailing the wily ringleader of the French smuggling gang (Fernando Rey) through the New York subway shuttle system, one after a suspect in a commandeered car in which Hack-man leaves his car battered by numerous small accidents, and a climactic one after a French killer (Marcel Bozzuffi) in a runaway elevated train which must rank as the most thrilling and hair-raising one since the classic San Francisco chase in "Bullitt," producer Philip D'Antoni's previous hit. After the French smugglers and New York gangster distributors are cornered and shoot it out in a Ward's Island automobile graveyard and an abandoned asylum, it is revealed the story was factual. The real-life detectives depicted, Eddie Egan (Hackman) and Sonny Grosso, (Scheider) have other roles in the film, Egan as Hack-man's superior officer and Grosso as a federal narcotics agent.

There is a strong possibility that Hackman, "The French Connection" and director Friedkin will receive Oscar nominations, well deserved. Friedkin, to achieve pace, has cut his film to the bone, leaving some things unexplained, but the only point I found fault with was the ending, where two unexplained pistol shots ring out in the abandoned asylum. fx Nl Washington University Medical School assistant professor of neurology, said that such un- fortunates mav not be able to talk, swallow or move, though they can move their eyes. i ft vi ur. Knth familv and natient understood what a stroke really was," she said.

"Time and time again I've had a patient look at a paralyzed arm or leg and ask me where the blood was stopped down there. Of course, the damage is in the brain which controls the limb. And mt nt understanding that is part of the treatment. "I asked the family to tell me the story of the stroke. We discussed their reactions to it, and there was generally a lot of crying.

Telling we was a good wy there was a lot of depression for both stroke patients and their families. "Often a stroke is destructive to a marriage. Not only does a patient feel unattractive, but husband and wife simply do not discuss the situation with each other. I encourage them to talk it over as much as they can. "I FIND OUT what is the most important thing the patient wants to do first, re- gain the use of his arm or leg, or does he want to learn to talk.

Can he go back to work? Then we discuss practical things, such as insurance, transportation, social security disability benefits, even job ap- plications when the patient gets better. "We about what the neighbors may ask about the stroke and how will the patient answer them. Sometimes men don't want to leave the hospital until they can walk again they can't have another man see they can't walk. For a woman, a drooping side of the face is a worse problem. "If necessary, we investigate community resources for the handicapped.

The St. Louis So- ciety for Crippled Children, Inc. will supply such equipment as wheelchairs, hospital beds or lifts under certain circumstances if it is prescribed by a doctor. If the patient can be re-employed, the Missouri Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, 818 Olive Street, will buy the necessary equipment. It will also pay for outpatient rehabili- tation and vocational counsel- ing and retraining." they rarely recover.

But their lives can be maintained ana they still need nursing care. Others are comatose begin with, but as days go! by they begin to wake up. They don't know where they are. All we can do for them is (o try to keep them alive. But we prepare the family for death.

"Some are unconscious for the rest of their lives. This is a difficult problem both for the family and the physician, since we do not practice euthanasia. Often such patients are sent to nursing homes because hospitals are so expensive. There, nature often takes care of the situation and they die; because they do not receive the care that they do in hospitals. "If a hospital stroke patient with no prospect of recovery goes into a deeper coma, to a certain extent we support his dropping blood pressure.

If the patient is making the' slightest effort to breathe, we' use the mechanical respirator. But even with assistance, his chances of survival are slim. Soon the electroencephalogram may show that his brain has ceased to function." THOUGH A STROKE may well totally incapacitate or kill, Dr. Hardin prefers to emphasize the positive side of the picture. To him, the important factor is that many stroke patients can come back from the wasteland of brain damage to useful, even highly productive lives.

But proper diagnosis motivation and retraining are essential. "The right side of Louis Pasteur's brain was severely damaged by a stroke in 1858," Dr. Hardin said. "As a result, his left side was paralyzed. He fought back to 20 more years of valuable life.

It was after his stroke that he made medical history by developing the Pasteur treatment against rabies." The St. Louis Heart Associa tion will hold an informar, free counseling conference for the families of stroke patients at 4643 Lindell boulevard Feb. 24 at 7:30 p.m. For reservations, call Mrs. Virginia Ooldberg at 367-3383.

YARD BASKET From Mexico. Reg. .99 .66 STAND 11 said Mrs. Annalea Kayar, supervisor of the St. Charles nffirA of the Visitine Nurse As- SOciation.

Its personnel does much home care of stroke patients, "RELATIVES visiting in a hospital are on their Sunday best behavior. But people work- in the home get to know not only the patient but how famiy about hjm she said. "Lots of times our workers must build up mem- jrs of the patjent's family as mucn as patient. when man jn hjs ear. 40s was hit by a stroke, his wife was completely lost.

She was constantly on the phone to us for advice. She had never made a decision in her life, didn't even know how to drive a car. Her husband had always told her that she was so stupid she had to have a man to take care of her. Even when she was outside mowing the lawn, he was rapping on the glass with his good hand to tell her she was doing it all wrong, "Our nurse encouraged her to take driver training, and gradually to assume responsi- bility for the family. Her hus- band was given physiotherapy, as well as speech and occupa- tional therapy, but he will never be able to hold down a job again.

She had to learn when to listen to him and when not. She found that she could handle the budget and make purchas- ing decisions. When she got her driver's license, it was a major family triumph." THE LIFE STYLE of upper income folk sometimes impedes patients recovery, Mrs. Kayar said. 'Sometimes families are un- willing to change their familiar routines to see patients pro- gress.

One elderly affluent stroke victim was convinced that he was nothine but a trouble to his family. His bossy wife tried to solve the problem by hiring someone to be with him and wait on him at all times. We professionals thought he should have therapy regular- ly in order to learn to do things by himself. "We thought the physical lay- out of the house should be piece of furniture and the right dangerous scatter rugs for the right spots. She wasn't about to move anything, so her hus- band couldn't exercise without the therapist.

"That wife was saccharin-sweet. When we tried to explain how to revise the house, he said she mustn't be upset. Her husband's progress was poor. Her son was too busy to take Dad for a walk on Sun days when the therapist couldn't come. Finally our patient be gan to go downhill, in spite of all we could do.

Today he is bedridden. "ON THE OTHER hand, we see many lovely relationships in the homes of stroke patients. We see three-generation households you'd be surprised at how many old people stay at ynnMlnjlipilMUHIHI' Mill HI II lllll III il I III II III II I III II I 1 home to be cared for by a son or daughter. One young mother kept her bed-ridden parent help- ing and haDDV for hours fold- ing diapers into exact squares. It took Grandma twice as long as it would have taken the young mother, but the whole family was proud of the old woman's contribution.

"Grandmother may not be able to jjse one arm, bat she can still supervise the grandchildren and their cookie mak- ing. She may have to stay in a wheeelchair, but she can play games and work puzzles with her grandchildren, or explain! homework to them. Sometimes she may tell them stories of what St. Charles was like about 1910 when she was a little girl. Or most important of all, she can just listen.

We think that ot patients with brain stem stroke, that is, damage to the part of the brain through which the descending impulse path- ways go to enter the spinal column. Dr. William B. Hardin, You'll gtt loti of ideal "bout wher lo qo what to se and do in fi Traval and Resort paaiM of tha ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH Sun mtfe jfc.

yMtBu- Charlie Chaplin Revival IN ALL THIS TALK over the decades about Charlie Chaplin's artistry and pathos, many people have forgotten how genuinely funny Chaplin's little tramp could be. "CITY LIGHTS," one of seven Chaplin revival programs Nurses and health aids need changed so that he could move our patients are lucky if they to be familiar with the family about safely and care for him- are in a home with a child-situation as much as do doctors, self. But his wife had spent they know they are needed." years accumulating the right Not so lucky are the families "SOME ARE conscious and in living hell," said Dr. Hardin, who heads the Stroke Commit- tee of the St. Louis Heart As- sociation.

"If they are badly damaged, KORAN in a series at the MAGIC LANTERN, is perhaps Chaplin's best and most representative picture. It is a delight, still, 41 years after its first release, the most hilarious picture in town, explosively, rib-crackingly mirthful. The work of a great clown is timeless, founded as it is on basic antic values. Drastic reductions on hundreds of items imported from around the vorld! Who says imports are more expensive? ENGRAVED BRASS TRAY There are some memorable, indelible comic episodes in this. Chaplin's scenes with Harry Meyers, one of the great comic drunks of films, are beautifully timed and executed Meyers, as the disconsolate millionaire, being dissuaded by Charlie from suicide at the river bank, the night club scene where chairs are pulled out from under people in dazzling succession, the restaurant scene where Charlie accidentally tries to eat an endless string of confetti with his spaghetti.

Then there is the classic party scene where Charlie swallows a whistle and gets the hiccoughs, and the great prize fight ballet where Charlie, as a scared gladiator, keeps waltzing behind the referee. Of course, Chaplin's story about his love for the blind flower girl (Virginia Cherrill, who was married to Cary Grant a year later) was elemental simple Chaplin pathos, and the plot was childish and corny the girl sick and about to be evicted by the landlord for nonpayment of rent and the little tramp raising $1000 to get her an eye operation. Much of Chaplin's direction and his shabby production values were dated even in 1931. But the ending, when the girl, her sight restored, realizes that this funny little man was her benefactor, compensates for all that. Chaplin's ineffably sweet smile and the look of shining joy in his eyes make one of the most superbly moving moments in screen history and demonstrate what a great artist the man was.

This is a silent film as to dialogue, except at the start where the pompous oration of a silk-hatted speaker at a statue unveiling is compressed into a series of Donald Duck quacks, probably a satiric dig at the medium of sound. With spider legs (some damaged) 24" Reg. 39.27 as is 29.88 RATTAN PLATE Reg. 41c 4 for Hand-carved Indian shesham wood. JANUARY SPECIAL Rug, Carpet op Drapery 20 Oil Cleaning Additional 20 Cash Carry Discount Adjust-a-drape, The Guaranleed Length Process OFFER EXPIRES FEB.

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1.49 Drr "3 HOLDERS 1.61 88c .77 GOOD THROUGH nfrKi Icelandic DEAR DR. THOSTESON: I hope you can settle a debate among some of us young mothers about giving plain water to infants and children. From the first day home from the hospital, I gave mw Luxurious Sheepskin Area Rugs 41 14 Maryland Plazd aiallij inuues if ou co a lowina a SALE PRICES Reg. 25.99 Now 16.88 JANUARY 24 fin ID my children water. Now, as tots, they drink it by the glass, and most of the time a glass of water and glass of milk at each meal.

They have never been constipated, and their general health is excellent. Children of my friends often suffer from constipation, but my friends contend that they don't beileve in giving children water. I cannot if deride and J4er llendants the Iflfjotlier oj? the iride I II on Saturday, January Twenty'second at 2:00 p.m. 7301 N. LINDBERGH BLVD.

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RD. 962-1564 Dr. G. C. ThortMon seem to convince them that every living creature needs some water daily.

MRS. D. L. I'D QUIT arguing with them, but not give up hope that their kids will manage some way to get enough water. The body is 80 per cent water.

I certainly see no harm in giving water to infants and small children. Neither do I recommend forcing it. And water, as such, isn't the only water a person (or baby) gets. Milk contains a great deal of water. Fruits and vegetables are particularly high in water content And soups.

Even meat contains more water than most folks realize. ALL STORES OPEN (Hwy. 46 Laclede Station Rd.) 10 A.M.-9 P.M. M0N. THRU SAT.

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