Antipyrine 30 to 60 grains
Citrate of Caffeine 10 grains
Bromide of Potash 3 drams
Mix and make ten powders. Take one every half hour until relieved or until
six doses have been used.
These are very effective prescriptions, but if a person has any heart
trouble I would not advise their use except under a physician's care.
(Sometimes a patient with neuralgia gets desperate, and he will even
resort to morphine). Antipyrine is one of the simplest coal tar remedies,
and most persons can safely take it. Persons who are subject to neuralgia
or headaches need to take good care of themselves. Get plenty of rest and
sleep. Neuralgia at first can be cured, but when it once becomes chronic,
especially neuralgia of the face, it is hard to cure and frequently makes
life a constant misery. Plenty of outdoor life is essential. In that way
the system will be built up, and when the body is strong the disease can
be thrown off much easier. A great many people depend too much upon strong
medicines. Medicines are all right in their place, but all the medicine in
the world cannot cure a person unless that person does his or her part.
[NERVOUS SYSTEM 265]
SPECIAL DISEASES. Facial Neuralgia. (Neuralgia of the fifth pair of
Cranial Nerves. Also known as Trifacial Neuralgia. Neuralgia of the
Trigeminus. Tic doloureux, etc.).--This form is more frequent than all
other forms combined, this nerve being peculiarly susceptible to
functional and organic disorders. All three branches are very rarely
affected together, the ophthalmic (eye) branch being most often involved.
The symptoms depend upon the branch involved.
1. Ophthalmic Neuralgia Pain, (eye neuralgia pain).--This pain is above
the eye, or frontal kind, with a special painful point at the supraorbital
(above the eye) notch. Sometimes the pain is very severe in the eye-ball.
2. Supramaxillary Neuralgia.--In this the pain is along the infraorbital
(nerve beneath the eye) nerve, and there is a marked tender point at the
opening in the bone (infraorbital foramen) beneath the eye. A
toothache-like pain in the upper teeth is common in this variety.
3. Inframaxillary (lower maxillary) Neuralgia.--This is characterized by a
scattered (diffused) pain along the inferior dental (teeth) branch, and
extends from the temporal (side forehead) region over the side of the face
to the chin, with pain in the lower teeth and side of the tongue. The pain
in this nerve may come on without any special cause, or it may come after
excitement of a physical or mental nature. Disorders of nutrition occur.
The circulation is interfered with and the face, at first pale, becomes
red. Eruptions may appear along the course of the nerve, while salivation
and "running" (lachrymation) of the eyes are often prominent symptoms.
Spasms of muscles of the face (tic doloureux) may accompany the paroxysms
and this is the most terrible form of nerve pain. The attacks may be mild
or very severe and sometimes sudden. This is a terrible disease,
especially when it has existed for some time. A person with severe pain in
the face should always attend to it immediately, before it becomes
chronic.
Treatment.--It is directed towards removing the cause, if possible.
Chronic cases are difficult to cure. The patient should be careful not to
take cold, keep strong and healthy by regular hours for sleep, good
sufficient clothing. The general health must be improved. These directions
apply to all kinds of neuralgia.
INTERCOSTAL NEURALGIA.--A neuralgia of one or more of the intercostal
nerves. These nerves run in a groove in the lower edge of the ribs.
Causes.--It may develop without any special cause. It comes in anemia,
after exposure to cold, from affection of the vertebrae, ribs, spinal
cord, or from the pressure of tumors, or aneurism of the aorta. This is
next in importance to neuralgia of the fifth nerve, and occurs more often
in women and very common in those who have hysteria. It is more common on
the left side and mostly in the nerves situated from the fifth to the
ninth intercostal space. If it is located in the nerves distributed to the
mammary glands it gives rise to neuralgia of the mammary gland. The flying
darts of pain in the chest (pleurodynia) are to be regarded as neuralgic
in character.
[266 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]
Symptoms.--The pain is usually very severe, especially on movement of the
intercostal (between the ribs) muscles. With this pain, as a rule, an
eruption (herpes) appears along the course of the affected nerve and this
is supposed to be due to the extension of the inflammation from the
nerve-ends to the skin. Pain, when pressed upon, is most marked near the
spinal vertebral, the breastbone (sternal) end and the middle part of the
nerve. The trouble may continue a long time after the eruption (herpes)
has disappeared, for it is very obstinate.
PHYSICIANS' TREATMENT for Intercostal Neuralgia.--This consists in using
remedies that will cause counter-irritation. Electricity and pain
destroying (anodynes) remedies are indicated in chronic cases. Apply heat
for pain in the "breasts." For the eruption an ointment like oxide of zinc
can be used.
Local Treatment.--A mustard plaster is frequently good to use. It produces
the counter-irritation desired. Application of dry heat from hot cloths; a
hot sand bag may help in some cases. A rubber bag containing hot water can
also be used. Fomentations of hops, etc., applied hot and frequently
changed to keep them hot are beneficial in some cases. I have found in
some cases that an adhesive plaster put over the sore parts relieves the
severe pain. Porous plasters are also good. Tincture of ranunculus
bulbosus (buttercup) is a good remedy. Put ten drops in a glass half full
of water, and take two teaspoonfuls every hour.
[Illustration: Sciatic Nerve.]
SCIATICA.--This is as a rule a neuritis of the sciatic nerve or of its
cords of origin. It is characterized by pain chiefly along the course of
the sciatic nerve.
Causes.--It occurs most commonly in adult males. The person may have a
history of rheumatism or gout in many cases. Exposure to cold after heavy
muscular work or exertion, or a severe wetting are common causes. The
nerves in the pelvis may be compressed by large tumors of the ovaries or
womb, by other tumors, or by the child's head during confinement.
Occasionally hip joint disease causes it. The nerve, as a rule, is
swollen, reddened, and in a condition of "interstitial neuritis." The pain
may be most severe where the nerves emerge from the hip bone, behind, or
in the inner back, and middle part of the thigh.