The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-06-19
NEURALGIA.
A Family Doctors Plain Advice 60 suf-
fcrers from this Complaint.

A Family Doctors Plain Advice to suf-
ferers from this Complaint.
Little need is there to describe the
symptoms of neuralgia, whether it takes
the form oftic-douloureux or face-ache,
hemicrania or halfheadache (sometimes
but wrongly called sun-pain), or sci
atica, in which the pain follows the
course of nerve running down the
back of the leg, even ut times MS far as
the toes. The pain when fully estab-
lished is of u terribly acute kind, and in
describable burning and shooting-tor-
ture, in fact. Itgenerally comes on with
out any warning at all, in one sharp
twinge, which soon recurs, and keeps on
increasing, till the poor patient is half
distracted, and his pale, anxious face is
beaded with perspiration.
OF the three kinds of neuralgia the
most common by far is tic, or face-ache.
This pain seems to come out" us
have heard patients describe it, from II
spot between the ear and temple, and
spread itself over one side of the face,
adown the jaws, along one side of the
nose. and into the eye itself The fits OF
pain seem ut times induced by the most
trifing causes, such as II sudden start,
loud, quick sound Gas the slamming of
n door), or the slightest draught of cold
air, mouthful of hot tea or cold water
Sometimes the patient will get ease if
he keeps in bed, with the face entirely
buried in warm soft flannel, but contact
with the pillow will ut once induce II
paroxysm. Sleep banishes the pain en-
| tirely for the time, or perhaps altogether,
| if the slumber has been natural, and not
induced by weakening, enervating mar
cotics.
Now let us see for moment what are
the usual causes of neuralgia. If we
know these it will assist us materially
in laying down rules for the general
treatment of the complaint. And here
let me premise that some cases are in
durable. because they depend upon pres
sure by tumors of some kind at the
root of the nerve, maybe a bit of bone
growing into it. For remember the
nerves are extremely sensitive if pressed
upon directly. A kinder-hearted man
than Professor l., of Aberdeen, or
Sandie," as he was familiarly termed
never lived; but he used to say to us
students: Gentlemen, in cutting down
upon an artery in one of the extremities,
you will often find the artery, the vein
and the corresponding nerve lying in
juxtaposition. You can easily tell the
vein, but you may be puzzled to know
which is nerve and which artery: give
one of them, then, a slight pinch with
the forceps; lift is the former, oh ! won't
the patient hollow! but if he doesn't
hollow, go on, tie away" And I've
often seen this put in practice with the
very happiest results, so far as the oper-
ator was concerned. / merely mention
this to prove to you that pressure on the
root of a nerve may cause an incurable
form of neuralgia. But do not think
that wish to frighten you. l therefore
hasten to tell the perhaps afflicted reader
that these cases are very rare indeed,
and that the large majority of those who
suffer from the malady may be cured
for the time, and the disease even pre-
vented from returning.
| said that very often neuralgia gave
no warning, but came on suddenly; but
it more often comes on gradually, and
is preceded by some arrangement of the
general health, such as indigestion.
From this fact, again, the wise may take
hint.
[ do not say that strong men with ro-
bust constitutions never take neuralgia,
but all my experience, and that | be-
lieve of nearly all medical men, go to
prove that it is more frequently an ac-
compartment of weakened frame OF
body, with nervous system below par.
| This may have been occasioned by bodily
fatigue combined with want of sleep,
anxiety of mind, worry, etc., or from de-
bility from whatever cause. But |
must not forget to say that indigestion
is Il frequent cause, and excess in eating
and drinking combined with late hours
in hot rooms. Another hint, please
reader: foul air, especially living in
malarious districts. will also bring on
neuralgi and in this case the attacks
are generally of a periodical kind. The
great majority, however, of the cases OF
neuralgia which come under the notice
of the practitioner are caused by decayed
teeth. And this fact gives us hint num-
Der three.
Sciatica cases are at times exceedingly
distressing. l shall just mention one
which | cured not long since; and We
may learn something from it because the
cure was so simple. A gentleman thirty.
two years of age he was, spare but wiry
from errors in diet, elected, he had be
come troubled with indigestion and hear
burn, which lasted for months: and
moreover, he had quite his own share o
that heart eating canker, care. For th'
eart-burn he was in the habit of swal
lowing large quantities of the bicarbon
ate of soda. Now it is well known tina
antacids, although they may palliate fit
of Indigestion, cannot cure them and
moreover, the constant use of an antaci,
like soda never fails to bring on stat
of debility and poverty of blood. In th
present case the pains in the limb wer
almost constant, combined with stiffnes
of the muscles, which necessitated th
use of staff in walking. At about thre
OF four o'clock every morning there wer
paroxysms of the most terrible agony
during which the patient would leav
his bed, because, he said, lit WASH
level" and. rolled in rug, lie at full
length on the floor, bathed in pain in
duced perspiration. 1t was no wonde
he was glad to take that dangerous mar
cotic, hydrate of choral, to give hin
quiet nights. But this only reduced hi
system more and more, and gave tn
enemy stronger ho-d thereon. When
; saw him he had been suffering thus fo
two months, and was indeed in pitiabl
plight. But giving up both the chlora
and the soda, going for change of ail
using some simple tonic and being c. re
full in his diet, worked wonders for him
The sciatica left him in one week, and i
!. six weeks he was well and hearty.
. One of the most distressing things i
Il, IL.