The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-07-01
Crick in the Neck.

Crick in the neck, stiff neck, or, to use
technical term, torticollis, is usually the
result of cold or of exposure of the at
fected part to current of cold air. The
pain is sometimes in the back of the
neck, but more frequently it affects only
one side, the patient being in the latter
case compelled to hold his head awry in
order to relax the muscles. A patient
suffering from q stiff neck not uncom-
monty presents somewhat comical ap-
pearance, and is often made the subject
Of much ridicule and joking, but for all
that the complaint is very painful one,
and is sometimes very intractable to
treatment. A stiff neck in children
is not mcommouly the cause of con-
siderable elevation of temperature the
fever lasting three or four days or more.
When the pain of acute tarticollis is very
great it may be necessary to endeavor to
obtain relief by the administration of
hypodermic injection of morphia. Local
applications, however, not unfrequenty
prove successful. Hot lamentations are
very valuable, as, for example, a piece of
spongiopiline wrung out Of hot water and
applied either alone or sprinkled with
laudanum, or belladonna hniment, or a
combination of the two. Turpentine
often proves useful In these cases. Over
turpentine should be sprinkled and ap-
piled till it produces redness, tingling
and smarting. It is well to bear in mind
that as the smarting arising from the tur-
pentine goes on augmenting for some
time after its removal, the application
should be kept on only just sufficiently
b. 10 10 <f
Undoubtedly one of the best remedies
for stiff neck is an infusion of capsicum,
red pepper, or chilies, as it is sometimes
called The mode of preparation and
application is sufficiently simple. You
infuse large handful Of crushed capsi-
cum pods in pint of hot or cold water
for thirty-six hours. You then soak
piece of lint in this infusion and apply it
to the affected part, covering it all over
with thin piece of gutta percha or oil
silk to prevent evaporation. 1t never
blisters or causes any inconvenience, and
is SO prompt in its action that it will
often completely cure bad case in ten
minutes. Respecting the internal reme-
dies for this complaint we have not much
to say. Benefit sometimes arises from
the use of salines which act on the skin
and kidneys and alter the state OF the
blood. The following mixture may be
taken with advantage: Solution of acetate
of ammonia, three ounces; spirit of nj
trous ether, two and half drachms;
iodide of potassium, twenty-f grains;
water to eight ounces. Two tablespoons
full every four hours. In cases in which
the patient is of a equity habit, colchicum
should, of course, be employed. When
the patient is much below par the use
Of cod-iver oil, iron, and more especially
quinine, will have to be resorted to.
When the fever runs high, aconite is in
dicated; when the complaint has in all
probability arisen from exposure to damp,
dulcamara should be tried; and when it is
attended with tearing, lancinating pains,
benadonna is the remedy. In the ma
jority of cases we should put our trust in
local applications, and above all in the
capsicum treatment. The Turkish bath
often proves useful as an adjunct.
adel2ohia Times.