Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-07-22
In contact with the skin until the sen
sation is abolished and IL has n leatberv

ance: The application should not be
continued for more than five or six
minutes OF IL may cause "A blister. One
OF the best and most convenient methods
OF freezing the part Is by spraying upon
II with ether, the evaporation of which
produces intense cold. A single applica-
tion OF the ether spray will in many
asesafford speedy relief in lumbago.
GALvANISM.
The use of galvanism is not uncom-
monty attended with the most satisfac-
tory results, the passage of what is know
as the interrupted current" effecting
Il speedy cure. When electricity, the
needle, or poultices fail TO give more
than slight temporary relief, il will
often be found that the lumbago 3 ac
companied by high fever, and that it is
in reality the first symptom OF an attack
of acute rheumatism or some other
febrile disease. The application of a
good strong plaster over the loins will,
by affording support TO the parts, often
give relief. Either the chalybeate plas-.
ter or the pitch plaster may be en-
ployed. 1t Is desirable TO have it spread
on leather or some equally durable and
substantial substance. In summer il is
a good plan to have it punched all over
with a number of little holes, to admit
of the evaporation of the perspiration
so as 10 avoid the troublesome itching
which would be caused by its retention.
Care should be taken to see that the
plaster is smoothly and equally applied.
An attack OF lumbago, affecting perhaps
the whole loins. often leaves behind it
one painful spot which may cause dis
tress only when the body is moved in
one direction. Remains of a lumbago like
this generally resists the usual methods
oil treatment, the pain being driven from
one spot on y 10 reappear at another. A
large belladonna plaster will generally
mitigate the complaint, should it fail 10
remove 1t altogether. OF the internal
remedies, ,iodide ofpotassium and nitrate
oil potash (niTe) may prove useful under
the conditions and in the doses referred
to while speaking of chronic rheuma-
tlsm. The former salt, however, not
unfrequently fails TO effect lumbago,
even when the complaint is distinctly
worse ut night. 1t has been claimed
for acie racemosa (cimiciiuga) that il
suboued lumbago more efiectually than
any other remedy. 1t Is well worth
trying in obstinate cases, out it must be
admitted that il often fails. The dose
is five drops of the tincture every two
hours.
CRICK IN THE NECK
Crick in the neck, stiff neck, or, TO
use the technical term, torticollis, IL
usually the result of cold or of ex-
posure of the affected part to current
Of cold air. The pain is sometimes in
the back OF the neck, but more fire.
quentiy it affects only one side, the pa
tient being in the latter case compelled
to hold his head awry in order to relax
his muscles. A patient suffering from
n stiff eek not uncommonly presents n
somewhat comical appearance, and is
often made the subject OF much
ridicule and joking. but for all
that the complaint is a very painful
one, and Is sometimes very intracta.
bic TO treatment. A stih neck in
children is not uncommonly the cause
of n considerable elevation of tempera-
ture. the fever lasting three or four days
or more. When the pain of acute tor
ticollis Is very great II may be neces.
sary to endeavor to obtain relief by the
administration of a hypodeTmic injec-
tion of morphia. Local applications.
however, not unfrequently prove sue
cessful. Hos Concentrations are very
valuable, as. for example. piece of
spongiopiline wrung out of hot water
and applied either alone or sprinkled
with laudanum. or belladonna lini-
ment, or n combination of the two.
Turpentine often proves useful in these
cases. Over n flannel wrung out of hot
water little turpentine should be
sprinkled and applied till II produces
redness, tingling and smarting. II is
well to bear in mind that as the smart
ing arising from the turpentine goes on
augmenting for some time after its re-
moval, the application should be kept
on onIy just sufficiently long To excite
n moderate degree of pain.
THE BEsT REMEDIES.
Undoubtedly one of the best remedies
for stiff neck Is nm infusion of capsi-
cum, red pepper or chiilies. as Ii is
sometimes called. The mode of prep.
aration and application is sufficiently
simple. You infuse large handful of
crushed capsicum pods in pint OF hot
or cold water for thirty-six hours. You
then soak n piece of lint in this infusion
and apply IL to the affected part. cover
ing 1t all over with a thin piece OF gutta
percha or oil silK to prevent evapora-
ton. 1t never blisters or causes any
inconvenience. and Is so prompt in its
action that it will often completely cure
a bad case in ten minutes. Respecting
the internal remedies for this complaint
we have not much TO say. Benefit some
times arises from the use of salines
which act on the skin and kidneys, and
alter the state of the blood. The fol-
lowing mixture may be taken with adj
vantage: Solution of acetate OF ammo
mia, three ounces; spirit of nitrous
of ether, two and half drachms !;
iodide POTASSIUM, twenty-four grains
water 10 eight ounces. Two table
spooniuls every four hours. In cases in
which the patient Is of n gouty habit.
colchicum should, of course, be en-
ployed. When the patient Is much be.
low par the use of cod-liver oil, iron
and more especially quinine. will have
TO be resorted TO. When the fever runs
high aconite Is indicated; 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, bella