NEURALGIA

literally pain in a nerve, is a symptom of some «disturbance, at present unknown, to which sonsory nerves are liable. The nerves most commonly attacked are those of the face, the ribs, the loins, and the back of the thigh. The pain is of a most intense character; it comes me so often without apparent cause, affecting only one at a timo, and is not accompanied by any tise of temperature. The cause may bo disease of the bone through which a bt RNA he te NF het htt W de avVUs. nerve pa es; the pain in such a case is not felt at the bone, but at the extremities of the branch us of the nerve. Disease of the back-bone should thus be borne in mind as a a cause. In facial acuralgia, the ear, the eye-sight, the tecth, and, Syme the wisdom tooth, require careful examination, t ough many cases have occurred in which tooth after tooth has becn removed by a dentist without relicf having been obtained. It is therefore wise to consult a doctor before submitting to the removal of sound teeth. Exposure to cold and damp often determine an attack. Neuralgia is also common in the course of certain diseases, e.g., malaria, Bright’s and diabetes. The pam ht be the improvement of the general health. Regular habits and a course of tonics, e.g., iron, arsenic, quinine and the bypophanians all do good in certain cases. A country ho re stall better; the seaside, however, is not recommen Remedses for the relief of the pain itesclf include golsemium, butyl chloral hydrate, antipyrin, phenacetin, valerian, ether. Morphia and alcohol are dangerous. A liniment may be rubbed or painted on the painful ares 4.g., the liniment of aconite, belladonna and ilenctonin in equal parts often termed the a, b, c liniment; menthol and cocaine, menthol and chloral, chloral and camphor are also used as liniments. Fomentations sprinkled with laudanum or belladonna pre a may be tried, or a ginger poultice or blister may applied. Galvanism has a temporary Pro e y effect. Finally, removal of the roots of the nerve attacked may be submitted to under anwsthetic, or b pnotism may be resorted to if the above methods have failed. [s. 389]