The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1888-02-16
CAUSES o. NEURALGIA.
Some Pertinent Iselnxrks Upon . Very
Painful subject.

| ram Is the cry OF nerve Tor pure
blood" is the striking explanation of
neuralgia given by the most original
nerve pathologist of the present Gen.
fury. Although we can only become
sensible of pain through our neryes,
all pain is not neuralgia. This term is
applied to special kind of pain, often
occurring without any ascertainable
local cause. but freqently referable to
certain morbid conditions, the removal
OF which will remove the pain likewise.
The nervous system has been aptly
compared to telegraph circuit. The
brain Is the central Office, from and to
which the wires-the nerveS-lead. The
nerves. which conduct sensations from
the various termini to the brain are
sensitive nerves, those which convey
| impressions from the brain to the peri
| phery are nerves of motion. 1t is the
first class or sensitive nerves that are
affected in neuralgia.
Pressure, inflammation or injury of the
nerves may cause neuralgia. Certain
poisons circulating in the blood, such
as the malarial, rheumatic, or equity
poison, may also cause it. In other
cases it is due to simply poverty of the
blood; these are often extremely diff
cult to relieve, and in many such cases
good teeth have been sacrificed under
the belief that the neuralgia was due
to decayed molar.
E<~y
be the seat of neuralgia. Thus it may
occur in the scalp, the face, the chest.
abdominal organs, the thighs, or even
the feet. The neuralgias of the face
and head and of the thighs are most
frequent. The first is very liable to be
a manifestation of malaria, cold or de-
fectiye teeth, while sciatica or neural
gia OF the great sensitive nerve of the
thigh and leg is often an expression OF
the rheumatic poison.
A very singular form of neuralgia is
that affecting the nerves of amputated
limbs. 1t not rarely happens that after
an amputated stump has healed the
nerves of the stump being compressed
in the scar, become exceedingly pain
full. Curiously the pain is not felt in
the stump. but in the extremity of the
limb which has been amputated. In
one coming under the notice of the wri-
ter a man whose arm had been amputa-
ted above the elbow referred the exqui-
site pain he felt to the little finger of the
amputated hand years after the opera
ton. An old one-legged soldier apply
ing for an increase of pension said:
He had more pain in the foot which
amt, than in the foot which are"
This was terse way of saying that he
continued to have pain in the foot
which he had lost on the battlefield
many years before.
The explanation of this consists in
the fact that the terminal filaments of
q nerve are its most sensitive points;
they are the "feelers." the points from
which the sensations start on their
course to the brain, where they give
notice that something is wrong with its
outlying districts. When the nerve is
injured in its continuity the sensation
is often referred to the terminal ends.
Every one who has struck his ''crazy
bone-thc point above the elbow where
the ulnar nerve is very superficial and
easily injured must have noticed how
much the sensation was affected in the
little finger, the pain being often
greater there than at the point where
the blow was struck.
The treatment of neuralgia must be
guided by its causes. If a carious tooth
is ut the end of the painful nerve, it
should be extracted in order to remove
the source of irritation. If the neuralgia
is rheumatic in origin, the treatment
must be directed to the removal of that
cause Many sufferers find that the
habitual wearing of flannel undergar-
ments will obviate the attacks of their
old enemy 10 which they were subject
at every change of the weather. In
cases of sciatica swathing the limb in
flannel dipped in hot water or in spirits
Of turpentine will often cut short an
attack.
When the nerve pain is dus to ma
larial poison or to general depra"emeEt
| of the blood, the most brilliant effects
are secured from the proper Use of
quinine, iron and arsenic. In old
chronic cases due to Inflammation in or
along the track of the nerve, the per-
sistent use of electricity will often eff
feet cure. The proper use of such a
potent remedy requires. however, a
thorough study of the different cur
rents employed. rs it is easy to see
| that harm may be done by its inju-
dcious employment. In very obstinate
cases, especially of sciatica. the nerve
has been exposed by the surgeon.
picked up out of its bed and stretched
with considerable force. In many
cases this procedure has been COM
pletely effectual. In others. piece OF
the nerve has been eXclSed so rs TO cut
of the transmission of painful sensa-
tions from the seat of disease or injury
to the brain. This has also sometimes
resulted in cure.
When all is done, however. some
cases will resist the utmost efforts of
doctor and patient combined. The lat
ter can often, by watching tine efforts
of deleterious Influences, learn to avoid
them. and thus render the visits of
the physician unnecessary.-LouisUiIie
| COurier-JourHGL.
Professor of Practical Surgery