The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-04-07
Medical Notes.

sr~~O~|N%~~N~~~NS-N-.~ANI
Neuralgia is literally a nerve pain
but such a pain as cannot be adequately
described or even comprehended by one
who has happily never experienced il.
1t darts upon the victim like a light
nlng stroke, 1t courses through the af-
1ected nerves like liquid fire, and then,
after rack1ng the victim until it seems
no greater agony could be endured it
suddenly ceases, leaving only dread of
its recurrence, for a sudden onset, an
equally sudden remission, and periodical
recurrence are the chief characteristics
Of neuralgia differentiating it from all
other pain.
The causes of neuralgia are many and
obscure. Pain has been called the cry
of starving nerve for food, and as
phosphorus is an especially acceptab Bile
nerve food it has been called the plead
ing of a nerve hungering fer phosphorus.
Such pain is evidently due to a debili-
tated system, worn out by care or work,
or disease, so that it cannot support the
constituents Of it's constitution. Anemia,
too a poverty of the blood, leads to
nerve starvation and importantly for
nerve food, and wasting disease, Ike
consumption, which spend more than
they earn, also cause the nerves to pro-
test painfully.
Inflammation Of the nerve ceriters may
cause neuralgia In some more remote
nervous tributary, and Inflammation Of a
nerve sheath may cause nerve pain By
COMPRISING the nerve. Inflammation in
other organs or tissues may also cause
the pain; a decaying TOOTH for example
is sufficient to set UP the most excru-
ciating form Of neuralgia, known as tic
doloreux, but this will disappear with
the removal of the tooth. Other forms
Of 'tic" are most persistent, defying
all modes Of treatment. both medical
and surgical, and strange to say no one
absolutely knows the causes of this ter
rible pain. The most plausible explana-
tion of the "tic" in these cases, is that
some of the multitude Of minute passages
with which the bony part of the skull
and face is perforated, become smaller
than is natural, from some subtle bone
disease, and that the nerves, which lie
in them comfortably, when the conditions
are normal, are compressed by them and
hence cause pain
Neuralgia has an uncomfortable habit
of migrating from one part to another,
but usually settles down after a while
into one spot which it seems to select
as most adapted to it's disagreeable per-
formances The lumbago, for example,
is simply neuralgia in the lower portion
Of the back; sciatica is neuralgia affect
ing the large nerve at the back of the
thigh, hip and leg; intercostal neuralgia
is pain in the nerves between the ribs,
pain that is often mistaken, by the
way, for q symptom of heart disease.
Strange to say neuralgia has no visible
signs denoting its presence of occurrence,
as rule. There is no redness, swelling
or heat, or other Indications even Of local
Inflammation, at the painful spot, but
after the pain has ceased there is often
tenderness at the spot along the course
of the nerve. This tenderness is more
marked at places where the nerve can
be pressed against the bony protruber-
ance, these spots being called VaHeix's
points after the Frenchman who discov-
cred and described them.
AS in many other diseases the treat
ment of neuralgia must be double one.
treatment of the cause and treatment or
the effect. If it is due to debility, or
anemia, nourishiug food, pure air, and
warm clothing are essential. Dampness
and cold are very likely to bring on an
attack OF neuralgia and sitting in q
current of air is sufficient to cause an at
tack in those predisposed to the disease.
Some people, for example cannot go to
the theatre, or travel in the cars, with
out suffering from neuralgia, partly due
70 CHo UIdItiueSS OF the place and also,
perhaps, to the vitiated air. On the
other hand neuralgia is something like
the wicked, it doesn't like a hot place,
IN cases Of debility, is to be supplement-
ed by iron and arsenic. by cod liver OIL,
bitter tonics, and quinine.
NuX vonlica and it's alkaloid. strych-
nine seem to have an especially beneficial
effect in touing up the nervous system
and the continued use of one of these,
say 1-64th grain pill of strychnine, three
times a day, after meals. often has
wonderful effect, both in relieving the
neuralgia pains and bracing up the pa
tient who often suffers coincidently tn
nervous exhaustion. Pho phorus, too. is
OF great value when nervous exhaustion
is present and in cases Of neuralgia fol-
lowing or during convalescence from
acute fevers. A one-grain phosphorus pill
syrup of the combined hypophospliftes
may be used
Neuralgia is often due to some consti-
this case the disease should be properly
treated, quinipe beng given, for example.
In the so-called brow-ague OF maIarlaI
neuralgia; it may also be due to lead or
mercury poisoning ard certain forms OF
nicotine poisoning from excessive sInok-
ing. The form attending scrofuia may
yield to treatment of the scrofula by
cod liver oil. ard such Ike ''huiidiug-sD,,
remedies. Rut In all cases where neu al
gia is persistent in It's periodical appear
ance some reputable physician should be
consulted since neuralgia may be &C.