The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-07-26
THE TREATMENT OF TRIFACIAL TE NnVrQ ATklUA

pia" when in fact they are not of that nature. To take treatment which purports to relieve neuralgia when the trouble Is actually an nm pacted third molar (wisdom tooth) or sinu- sitis, is not satisfactory course to pursue The trifacial (trigeminaD nerve Is the nftn cranial nerve, sedine branches 10 the iowes jaw. the upper jaw and the brow The pain Of neuralgia Is most frequently felt in the brancn that goes to the brow, though In some eases 1t is in the lower branches.
 One of the most distressing and intractaDie facial neuralgias is the type which follows one or more outbreaks of herpes l"coid soresl on the face or over the orbit. No treatment as yet developed has given any marked rehef Tn these cases. The neuralgia has to run it's course of many weeks or months, then graou- ally subside. Neither alcohol infections Tn the nerve nor dividing the nerve brings relief In these cases. We can only endeavor to relieve or mitigate the pain for the sufferer.
 Tic douloureux (pain spasm) is the most atrocious of all neuralgias but fortunately 1t is rare. The spasms of pain occur only in the daytime, as a rule, and the patient manages 10 get fair rest nights In ordinary rifaciai neu- ralgia the pain is usually worse Dy night
 While persons who have or say they nave other forms of neuralgia pain not infrequently crave sedative drugs and sometimes become drug addicts. 1t is a peculiar cnaracteris.lc OF genuine trfacial neuralgia that the victim rarely or never becomes an addict, even if the drugs are given for the relief of suffering. An. other notable characteristic of true trigeminal neuralgia Is that although the suffering in some cases quite wrecks the yyictim's health and makes life miserable, threats or attempts at suicide are unknown
 Authorities admit they do not know the cause of trifacial neuralgia. There is some support for the theory that the pain may De produced by vaso-motor spasm Tn the vessels supplying the nerve, winch Is a manifestation of some disturbance in the sympathetic nerve connections.
 Some victims have noticed that they are free from pain when they have fever. Wtn 'i an's ,, as much relief with diathermy treatment-this eIevates the temperature of the tissues through which the current passes.
 Alcohol injections in the branch or root of the nerve have given relief for prolonged per- iod but this method of treatment generally has to be repeated from time to time, and ar. ter a few such injections patients are reluctant to go on with it..
 Surgical excision of portion of the sensory root of the portion in the distribution of which pain is felt, has proved the most satisfactory treatment in intractable trifacial neuralgia. This operation is not too difficult or delicate for the expert in such work, and 1t Is a minor op- concerned, so that there is no reason why any sufferer up to the age of 80 years should not be privileged to secure relief by operation when ordinary methods fail.
 Bigger and Better
 do want to thank you, first for your corn cure, which our family uses with unfatlng sat- isfaction, and second for your advice for gain ing weight. I have put on several pounds just by taking the bedtime snack you recommend
 Answer-The corn cure is as old as the hills an ousce of flexible esi soiodion Psnt ca Jus wart with it once daily for week or two Keep it off from normal skin, and from the alcohol and ether will evaporate and leave thick mass in the bottom of the vial.
 Smoking
 Is smoking injurious to an expectant mother, if she has had the habit for six years and finds 1t hard to stop? (Nfrs G. w. T.)
 Ana m. der her incapable of nursing the baby
 Adhesive Plaster
 Can you tell me how to make the cld.fash- toned adhesive plaster-sticIxing plaster? Ev- erything nowadays has rubber base, and as use 1t on my feet 1t makes them very sore. The old d-fashioned kind was made with muslin and had to 6c heated before e,sct aRpyns tc S 9 et ter leave the preparation of the old-fashioned adhesive plaster (sticking plaster. resin pias- ter) to the skilled pharmacist, who has com- plete instructions in his pharmacopoeia or dis
 Boy Swallowed Pennies
 My boy aged swallowed three pennies 1t days ago. X.ray showed the pennies In the stomach. Doctor advised feeding him plenty of popcorn, bread and potatoes, and prescribed . medicine to help work the pennies out of the shows no effects. Is there danger of copper poisoning? C. M. O.
 Answer--No. The foods the doctor advised o se ss satnsrs cys hm every s @ss large bowl of mixed vegetables, cabbage, celery green beans. not cooked soft, not much masticated.
 Four years ago when was expecting my 1rst baby wrote for y0uR advice, and followed 1t, Including tine daily walk of 6 mile and born with practically no suffering. All hte old fneies had predicted dire things because { was s6 young and go foolish ab0ut walking 70 mach every 1.y--tut 7 fooled 'sm. ny M sseend baby arsf. OHw [ believe OuP tWO bin1bOs sFe per- fecfiy wesi and happy. have Co Isueh wten see s0nse of fife old fogles e1til fi1eir babies them walking fbe noor nights whIie say babica afe sound as'eep 1hey espFessed b0FFDp mhen they ssw ms babies esilss banans . fflfa D. MD
 Answer~,At that. Es lsi sf fun sbseryins ihe queint practices ef che ignorant y,sesefss, ''"' " x<.....a.hx s.s. r s,ais e..