Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-24
TALKS WITH THE poCroR.
More About Neuralgia and Osher Oommon
Diseases OF Mankind
Frosn The Nv Yorh v.orla

Diseases of Mankind.
Prom the New York world
Facial neuralgia tic douloureuxl Affects the
great nerve Of sensation OF the face lnovn as
the fifth nervel, and is one OF the most severe
and common forms of neuralgia that We mec,
with. This fifth nerve is a complicated affair
and not generally understood. The main
trunk OF IL commences inside Of the eraninm
and connects with the brain just back 81 tie
car. as IL reaches the FACE il branches out into
three divisiOns-one branch supplying sensa-
ton and movement to the forehead and eve.
the middle branch goes 90 the cheek ana up-
per jaw, while the lower takes in the lower law.
Almost any par; OF the face. then. may he af-
fected with neuralgia 81 the NTH nerve. ana
the nerves Of the teeth are also parts or
branches of tins nerve.
The causes of neuralgia nav be either con-
stitat;onal immediate or rernotc-cutstitu-
tional because THE "a one Of the many tnala-
dies that may he inherited. persons OF certain
nervous temperament being more .uscepfhla
20 the disease. The immediate canz.s are
changes in the construction Of the nerve. amen
risms. tumorS. &c. I'm; these matters W. a.
the lav people have little Co 10 with. and We
can leave them safely 20 the doctors. A. ~
mote causes ! would mention dccayed teeth. in
digestion, constipation and almost any iunc-
uoual disarrangcments.
Women and children are more suhiect 20
neuralgia than men. probably becaaae. as
mentioned in my last talk. they are not - hAr-
dened 90 cold and severe weather and to suddcn
changes. weak. Anemic condition of the sys-
tenn. too. is especially favorable 10 an attack u
this disease.
need hardly say ANYTHING about the synp-
toms OF neuralgia. Too many OF us know and
recognize the gradually increasing pain in the
face and teeth. Often We think il is merely
toothache and different teeth may be extracted
IN the hope OF getting the right one. IL may
be months before the distinct paroNysns come,
and then OF all pain tins il perhaps the worst.
At hrsi the attacks may he weeks apart. Grad
ualiy they increase in frequency. Sometimes
there may be an entire freedom from pain in
the intervals between the attacks. hut usually
there Is constant Soreness and aching of the
jaws and eyes. Often the skin is red and
feverish.
Neuralgia NAV he several wears in Develop
ing. the attacks being gradually more severe
and well defined. Ii Is. therefore, a chronic
disease, aud although the simpler forms are
readily cured IL taken i'm time there are cases.
happily rare when the cause of the disease ID
at the trunk Of the nerye), which, l think, are
incurahle.
Then. again. protracted cases may terminate
in epileptic attacks or induce insanity
find have neglected 90 mention that there
Is phase of neuralgia arising from malarial
poison IN the system. in which the paroxysms
are periodic and occur with some approach to
regularity. These attacks NAV be wara,d of
with almost unvarying success by taking full
doses Of quinine two or three hours before tho
time of their arrival
Then. again. neuralgia must not be con-
founded with rheumatism. for in that case our
treatment Of II as neuralgia will prove 81 no
avail IL is well 20 learn whether our patient is
likely TO have inherited rheumat ism before de-
Gliding upon our course of treatment.
One of the most necessary things 20 look
after in curing neuralgia l. the general health
of the patient. IL weak. anRmic. without Appe-
tte. suffering from nervous OF mental depres-
sion. or from constipation of the bowels
must attend TO these matters at once. Increase
the appetite by tones. exercise and regularity.
Tone up the system. il necessary. BY sleep, re-
firing early and avoiding dissipation.
As a tonic medicine. especially when the
blood is poor and circulation weak "a condi-
tion which is indicated by pale cheeks. color
less lips. cold feet and hands,. have great
faith In iron For men and children would
recommend the tincture OF chloride Of iron,
commonly known tincture of iron. Put ten
drops into a glass OF water. and take a swallow
three or four times day for three DAYS. Then
stop for three days, and then again take Tor
three DAYS. Keep on this way for several Nc.ks.
unless you feel pain in the forehead tfrontal
headache) in which case make the dose smaller.
(Ihis dose is for adults; give children in pro-
portion to age.)
on account of its causing disarrangemcnt II
the functions OF certain organs. and ON this nc
count advise the dialyzed iron. i'm doses for an
adult of fifteen TO twenty drops three times daily.
} :
the tincture Of iron. but the course OF taking it
must be longer. perhaps two or three months.
and il Is then very certain and satisfactory
tonic and blood-enricher.
In very severe cases Of neuralgia. for i'm
mediate relief there Is nothing &c ual to hypo-
dermic injections Of morIhia. atropia. chloro-
form and other Drug. all dangerous. and which
must therefore be administered only by a
petent physician. But AN cases not severe
an old-iashioned remedy. but an excellent one
is the hop pillow. Make flannel bag. about
six by eight inches, and FIJI it with hops THAI
have previously beer stepped in hot vinegar.
Apply it TO the face AZ hot a. can be borne
The relief is almost always immediate and rest.
full sleep Is induced.
But TO come back 10 the beginning Of this
talk, what L especially desire is 10 teach YOU
how not TO have the neuralgia. Keep no the
general tone of the system. Avoid exposure
and wet feet; look after the teeth ard in case
of unavoidable exposure undo the mischief
soon and as thoroughly as possible by the plan
i have laid down in last weeks talk. and un-
less YOU have inherited a very strong faint Of
this malady there is really no reason for your
ever having Ie,IfOlgia-
! There is another form OF neuralgia 10 which
mothers are especially subject when nursing
( their infant1. Ihis Is directly caused by the
drain of lactation upon the system. and Of course
the remedy is directly indicated.
Make up far Possible for this drain
Every nursing mother should have exception
ally nourishing food. As n tonic food nothing
D II Dtltct IMAM SUM- ol llio-pldlt-h. ltl-
lows or McArthur'B syrup Of hypophospliies
Ii excellent. Another thing which l. all nOur-
ishment is cod liver oil. either plain or in
emulsion. You cannot be too particular. how
ever. in buying cod liver oil, 10 get il OF some
one who is reliable and get the genuine ar
ticle.
ANY quantity OF seal and other oils, which
are of no medicinal value. are bottled and
sold every day - pure cod liver OIL, and
as You can hardly test the oil you buy yoa
must DEFEND upon the word Of the druggist
who sells il 20 yen. IL seems 10 me that Of
all contemplate frauds this is one Of the
meanest
Once in a while we hear of some sllasm %
our health officers and the adulteration act il
enforced on small grocer who has sold
baking powder which contained an admixture
of wheat -four or some other atrociously
innocent substance. but il would seem N IL
seal oil might be sold for cod liver oil with
impunity. Notwithstanding the fact that as a
medicine seal oil is of more value than
water, except 60 induce biliousncss and fevers.
while genuine cod liver oil il rich in iodine and
as a nutritious food stands above every thing Sd
far discovered.
circumstances Alter Cases."