Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-02-07
TALKS WITH THE DOCTOR.
Other Forms Of Neuralgia, sciatica, Muse
lar rheumatism.

TALKS WITH THE DOCTOR.
Other Forms Of Neuralgia, sciatica, Muscu-
lar rheumatism.
From the New York World.
As q rule people consider sciatica sort Of
rheumatism. We often hear it spoken Of az
sciatic rheumatism. Nevertheless it il . neu-
ralgia pure and simple and next TO the tic
doloureux among the neuralgia affections.
Muscular rheumatism can be distinguished
from sciatica quite readily, as the pain
il less severe in the former and is
spread over a larger surface Of the limb. Then,
again, the pain is more steady in rheumatism,
whereas in sciatica it comes in paroxysms,
more or less regular, although differing much
in intensity and duration. Sometimes sciatica
may be COMPOUNDED with hip disease in its first
stages. and. in fact, hip disease il often at
tended with genuine scistic neuralgia.
In case Of complication it is necessary that q
physician be called and trust it is perfectly
understood that in my talks do not intend to
convey the idea that every man may be his own
doctor. l am the last man in the world to de-
tract in any way from the value Of the research,
science Of medicine to its present state.
In fact, Ind 1 the making of the laws
would insist on much more
thorough examination and much
more complete and practical standard OF
education before would allow young man to
graduate and practice medicine. II there could
be included in the regular course Of education
for a medical student at least a year at pre-
scription clerk duty with a good druggist and
three years service as assistant or even as nurse
in a hospital, we would hear less Of errors in
diagnoses and Of blunders in writing and filling
prescriptions.
But as I was saving, have no intention in
these talks OF advising you to doctor yourself
except in simple cases; what I want is to show
you how to avoid disease, for Of course You re-
member the old saw about the "ounce Of pre-
vention," and surely in this case it is most ap-
plicable.
sciatica is rarely inherited It can, in nearly
every case. be traced to direct causes. The
nerve affected, in plain terms, begins ut the
hip and runs down to the knee then separates
into several branches and continues on down to
the ankle and heel. For some reason sciatica
is more frequent in men than in women and
may arise from several causes, such as ex-
treme constipation, excessive walking, sitting
chair Of such form that too much
pressure is brought upon the nerve,
exposure to cold and damp, sitting upon cold
or damp stone, sitting in street cars in winter,
which are usually both cold and damp, al
though, thank goodness, the companies have
become SO far christianized that they have
given up their plan of strewing the floor with
wet. half-frozen straw.
Although. as have said sciatica is seldom
inherited, it must be admitted that persons
who inherit tendency to rheumatism are
more apt to have an attack of sciatica, under
certain exposures. than those who are perfectly
sound in their pedigree.
Sciatica usually begins with an attack Of
lame back Qumbago), although have known
the first symptoms to appear i'll the feet or in
the hip. Usually there is numb feeling, a
feeling of Stiffness and dull. heavy sensa-
ton about the leg, before the distinct pain
comes on. When the pain does come, how
ever, sharp, tearing, grinding, there is any
thing but numbness. 1t may come in the hip,
shoot like lightning along the course of the
nerves to the heel or to tho knee, along the
calf of the leg, or to all parts at once. Some
times the pains only last for an hour or SO, but
in extreme cases they have been known to re-
sist all treatment for several days at a time.
In the intervals between the paroxysms the leg
is heavy and sore. Exercise or movement in
creases the pain and an awkward movement
may bring on parOxysm.
In severe cases the appetite is affected and
the patients health runs down from a conse-
quent weakness and loss Of sleep. The limb
becomes more and more useless, o cane or Il
crutch has to be used, and finally the bed must
be kent constantly.
With proper treatment, and if taken in time,
case Of sciatica may be entirely cured in q
week or two. Some cases. however, last for
months, or even years. especially il there be
complications. Some cases gradually supside
in year or two without specific treatment.
Now as to treatment. OF course the causes
that can be discovered must be removed. If
there is constipation of the bowels that must
be attended to. Such habits as may tend to en-
courage the disease must be given up. If the
attack comes Oh with lame back would rec
onmend porous plaster (Capsicum) In fact,
yoU will find from my talks that am q firm be-
lever in the efficacy Of porous plaster as q
counter irritant, and think they should be
used much more than they are. Not that
would especially recommend any Of those pro-
prietary ones-all are good.
The plaster like best is not patent medi-
cine, and every druggist keeps them. They
are called "Dermix." and are strong with cap
sicum and contain Just little bellalonna. 1t
is a regular pharmaceutical prepare; lion. SO l
am at liberty to recommend it. In sciatica or
in lame back or in muscular rheumatism use
these plasters and always with good results
Put them right over the seat Of pain. In ex-
tremo cases of sciatica 1 have seen the whole
thigh covered. l believe that nearly every
case of sciatica if taken early may be not only
relieved. but completely cured By this simple
treatment
Russian and Turkish baths are excellent
things for sciatica. the only objection to taking
them being The liability of the bather to take
cold on his way home from the bathing es.ab-
lishment. 1 have for long time recommended
a simple arrangement for taking hot air or
vapOr baths at home, and shall talk about it
next week.