In his landmark work On the Sacred Disease, he proposed that epilepsy was not divine in origin and instead was a medically treatable problem originating in the brain. He accused those of attributing a sacred cause to the disease of spreading ignorance through a belief in superstitious magic. Hippocrates proposed that heredity was important as a cause, described worse outcomes if the disease presents at an early age, and made note of the physical characteristics as well as the social shame associated with it. Instead of referring to it as the sacred disease, he used the term great disease, giving rise to the modern term grand mal, used for tonic–clonic seizures. Despite his work detailing the physical origins of the disease, his view was not accepted at the time. Evil spirits continued to be blamed until at least the 17th century.In Ancient Rome people did not eat or drink with the same pottery as that used by someone who was affected. People of the time would spit on their chest believing that this would keep the problem from affecting them. According to Apuleius and other ancient physicians, in order to detect epilepsy, it was common to light a piece of gagates, whose smoke would trigger the seizure. Occasionally a spinning potters wheel was used, perhaps a reference to photosensitive epilepsy.In most cultures, persons with epilepsy have been stigmatized, shunned, or even imprisoned.
A phoenix abscess is an acute exacerbation of a chronic periapical lesion. It is a dental abscess that can occur immediately following root canal treatment. Another cause is due to untreated necrotic pulp (chronic apical periodontitis). It is also the result of inadequate debridement during the endodontic procedure. Risk of occurrence of a phoenix abscess is minimised by correct identification and instrumentation of the entire root canal, ensuring no missed anatomy. Treatment involves repeating the endodontic treatment with improved debridement, or tooth extraction. Antibiotics might be indicated to control a spreading or systemic infection. Causes
Phoenix abscesses are believed to be due to a changing internal environment of the root canal system during the instrumentation stage of root canal treatment, causing a sudden worsening of the symptoms of chronic periradicular periodontitis. This instrumentation is thought to stimulate the residual microbes in the root canal space to cause an inflammatory reaction. These microbes are predominantly facultative anaerobic gram-positive bacteria, such as Streptococcus, Enterococcus and Actinomyces species. Another cause of a phoenix abscess is a decrease in a patients resistance to these bacteria and their products. Signs & Symptoms
Clinical Features
PainA common clinical feature is exacerbated and exaggerated pain. There may or may not be associated with pus & suppuration. The signs & symptoms are similar to that of an acute periradicular abscess, but with a periradicular radiolucency present as well. Loss of VitalityThe problematic tooth will have a non-vital pulp with no previous symptoms. Vitality of teeth can be assessed through various means.