The Sun.
London, England, 1862-01-29 00:00:00

TREATMENT OF NEURALGIA.

The Lancet, of Saturday last, in its report of the London
hospitals, states that "the following cases of neuralgia, ex-
tracted frem the case book of Dr. O'Connor, are representa-
tives of a large class of a similar character, which have come
under his care at the Royal Free Hospital. They illus-
trate the success attending the use of the valerianate of am-
monia as a remedy in the severer forms of this malady.
Dr. O'Connor informs us that this drug, if retained in a
state of crystallisation, rapidly decomposes, arid is uncer-
tain in its action. It should be kept in solution ; and the
smallest dose he is in the habit of giving of the latter is
equal to 20 grains of the crystal.

" Case I—J. R—, a man aged 46 years, a porter, un-
married, was admitted Nov. 9th, complaining of excruciat-
ing pain in the right side of the face, commencing near
the malar bone, from thence extending to the nose, over
the whole of the upper, and then to the lower jaw.
He has been subject to the pain for ten years; it is gene-
rally most severe about eight o'clock at night ; but he is
never totally free from it. For the last week it has been
most excruciating, and he has had scarcely any sleep. Ha
has been under the care of many medical men, and sought
advice at various institutions, without benefit. Dr.
O'Connor ordered him a dose of compound powder of
jalap to be taken directly, and a draught of three drachms of
Bastick's solution of the valerianate of ammonia in infusion
of calumba every three hours.

" On Nov. 16th he agaia presented himself at the hospi,
tal, when he said that after taking two doses of the med i>
tine the pain was considerably relieved, and that ha had no
occasion to have recourse to the remedy after the sixth
dose. He is now well and free from pain.

" Case 2.—P. B.—, a married woman, aged 31, ad-
mitted on the same day as the foregoing; has two chil-
dren. For a number of years she has been subject to at-
tacks of neuralgia, which come on generally about five
o'clock of an afternoon, and continue with great severity
for five hours. The pain seizes her first behind the right
ear, extends to the nape of the neck and back of the head,
and frequently shoots with great rapidity along to the
malar bone, then to the lower jaw; and she is suddenly
seized with pain at the region of the heart. She is suffer-
ing from aortio valvular disease. At times the pains
are so severe that she cannot bear the slightest blast of
wind, and is obliged to roll herself on the floor. She was
ordered three drachms of the solution of the valsrianate of
ammonia in infusion of calumba every three hours.

" On Nov, 13th she was very much better; has had only
three attacks since the 9th. The medicine to be continued,
" 23d.—Has had no pain since the 18th.

g 4 Case 3.—R. P—, a married woman, aged 42 ; has
had eight children ; works as a laundress ; has suffered
from neuralgia of the fifth pair on the left side for nearly 20
years, and has sought advice at many hospitals with only
temporary relief. 'When the paroxysm is most severe, the
pain extends to the side of the neck and shoulder—it also
causes deafness. She is obliged to go to bed, and cannot
take any food, the slightest motion causing intense agony.
For ten years back the paroxysms have been more severe
and of longer duration. She was admitted, under the earn
of Dr. O'Connor, on the 13th of November, whilst in se-
vere agony ; had no sleep the previous night ; her health
is otherwise good; and the teeth perfectly sound. Sho was
ordered four drachms of the solution of valerianate of am-
monia, in infusion of calumba, to be taken every three
hours; a dose of compound powder of jalap directly.
On the 27th she states that after a few doses of the me-
dicine the pain diminished, and on the following day it
entirely disappeared.

Jan. 8, 1862—This woman became an out-patient from
an attack of influenza. She states that since the 28th No-
vember she has not had any return of pain.
"Case 4—L. C-----, aged 49, a married woman, admitted
on the 20th November. She has had nine children; has
been for nearly ten years subject to severe attacks of neu-
ralgia of the right side of the face, right eye, and the
tongue. These paroxysms came on generally at 8 o'clock
in the morning, and 4 in the afternoon, and as soon as she
puts anything into her mouth she describes the pain as
insufferable. Her health is otherwise good, and her teeth
are all sound, She was ordered a draught composed of four
drachms of the solution of valerianate of ammonia, in in-
fusion of valerian, to be taken every two hours, and to be
repeated oftener if the pain continued in its severity.
"Nov. 30—She states that since the 27th she has had
seund sleep every night, and the paroxysms of pain only
come on once a day, and then of much milder character.
The medicine to be taken every six hours.
"Dee. 14—Has had no return of pain since the Ist, and
now feels quite well,"

A deputation from Pontefract, consisting of Mr.
Dr. Lengstaff, J.P., Mr. Joseph Walker, and Mr, G. S.
Robson, and accompanied by Mr. Milnes, M.P., and Mr.
Childers, M.P., had an interview with the Right Hon. C.
P. Villiers yesterday, at the oMee of the Poor-law Board,
Whitehall,