Sulphate of soda 30 grains
Salicylate of soda 10 grains
Sulphate of Magnesia 1 grain
Benzoate of Lithia 5 grains
Tincture of Nux Vomica 3 minims
Distilled water 4 ounces
This mixture should be made up in large quantity and placed in a siphon by
one of the concerns which charge soda water, and from one-quarter to
one-half a glass of this water, at ordinary temperature, is to be taken
every morning at least one-half an hour before breakfast; enough being
taken to insure an adequate bowel movement during the forenoon. This ought
to be a good combination to use regularly.
[276 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]
5. Dr. Hare gives the following recommendations. Probably no single source
of pain compares in its frequency to headache, chiefly because it is
essentially a symptom of diseases or functional disturbances.
It may come from constipation or eye strain, from brain disease, anemia,
uremia, too much blood in the head, etc. In many cases a mild laxative to
thoroughly empty the bowels is necessary. Sometimes the urine will be
deficient in solids and liquids, so that the effete and poisonous material
are retained in the blood, which produce headache. For such cases if the
urine is acid, the frequent use of Vichy water, to which is added a little
bicarbonate of potassium, about five grains to a drink, as a diuretic will
prove of great service. If the urine is alkaline (and this you can tell by
using a red litmus paper which will turn blue if it is alkaline) ten grain
doses of benzoate of ammonium three (3) times a day are often useful.
NERVE TUMORS (Neuroma).--A morbid increase in the tissue-elements of the
peripheral (the external surface) nerves.
Varieties. True and False Nerve Tumors.--True nerve tumors (neuromata) are
composed of nerve-fibres provided with a medullary (marrow) sheath or of
nerve tissue; false nerve tumors are composed of other structure than
nerve tissue, are usually of secondary origin, extending to the nerve from
nearby structures.
Symptoms.--The true nerve tumors may be hereditary or due to wounds or
blows and amputation. They may give rise to no symptoms, or may cause
intermittent pain. Pressure increases this pain, when the condition of the
nerve fibre is interfered with. Loss of local sensation and power may
develop. It is sometimes possible to feel the little nodular growths, and
they can be seen when they are superficial. They may give no pain, or they
may become very sensitive. They may become chronic and they are very
liable to do so. Some of them may disappear.
PHYSICIANS' TREATMENT for Nerve Tumor.--The severe forms should be cut
out; others can be let alone.
NEURITIS (Inflammation of the Nerves. Neura-Nerves; Itis-Inflammation.
Inflammation of the Bundles of Nerve Fibres).--Nagel describes it as "an
inflammation of the nerves of an acute or chronic nature, associated with
more or less degeneration, change in the nerve fibrils of the affected
nerves."
[NERVOUS SYSTEM 277]
Causes.--An injury to the nerves, frequent muscular strains, exposure to
cold. Inflammation can extend to the nerve from adjacent inflamed
structures. Pressure can cause it. Fractures of bones cause it by
compression and it is also caused by infectious diseases, such as
rheumatism, typhoid fever, syphilis, etc. In some cases it simply appears
without apparent cause.
When the disease process involves the nerve sheaths and connective tissue
structures in particular, an interstitial neuritis results; when the
disease locates itself in the nerve fibrils it gives rise to
"parenchymatous neuritis" (main part of the nerve is inflamed).
Simple Neuritis.--This means that a single nerve of a group of adjacent
nerve trunks is affected. If a number of nerves are affected at the same
time it is called Multiple Neuritis or Polyneuritis.
Causes.--(a) Exposure to cold. This is a very frequent cause, as for
example, in the facial (face) nerve. (b) Traumatism,--that is, wounds,
blows, injuries caused by fractures and dislocations; pressure from
tumors, sleeping with the head resting on the arms. Pressure from
crutches, "crutch paralysis." (c) Diseases involving the nerves due to
extension of inflammation from nearby structures, as in neuritis of the
facial nerve due to decay of the temporal bone.
Symptoms.--The constitutional or general symptoms are usually slight. The
pain is the most important symptom, being of a boring in the parts to
which it is distributed. This pain may be very distressing, or of a
stabbing character, and is usually felt in the course of the nerve; or it
may cause little inconvenience. Sometimes the skin is red and swollen over
the affected parts. There is impaired nerve function and as a result of
this the muscles supplied by these nerves become weak, and occasionally
paralyzed. In severe cases they may become atrophied and an eruption often
appears along the course of the nerve. Sometimes the hair and nails are
not properly nourished, causing falling out or grayness of the hair and
loss of the nails. This neuritis may extend from the peripheral (external)
nerves and involve the larger nerve trunks or even reach the spinal cord.
This rarely occurs in neuritis from cold, or in that which follows fevers;
but it occurs most frequently in neuritis caused by blows, wounds, etc.,
(traumatic).
Duration.--This varies from a few days to weeks or months. If the primary
cause can be remedied it usually ends in full recovery. Sometimes it is
followed by the chronic form.
PHYSICIANS' TREATMENT for Neuritis.--The first thing to do is to try to
remove the cause. Then absolute and continued rest of the affected part.
If one has a sore hand it will be rested, if possible; so it must be with
the sore and inflamed nerve.
For the Attack.--After having placed the part in absolute rest, moist heat
applied to it frequently brings great relief. Sometimes a mustard plaster
applied along the sore part does good. This produces a counter irritation
and thus draws some of the congestion from the congested, inflamed nerve.
Ice is more effective in some cases than heat. The bowels should be kept
open daily with salts. Build up the general health with tonics; no alcohol
can be used. If it shows a tendency to become chronic, use massage,
electricity or change of climate. Atrophy (shrinking) of the muscles is
likely to follow if the disease continues long and for this massage and
electricity must be given.
[278 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]
Treatment. Preventive.--A person who has once had neuritis must exercise
all care to keep from taking cold or exposing themselves to severe cold
winds and storms. Wet clothing will be apt to cause its return. Damp
houses are bad. The climate should be dry and not changeable. There should
be enough and proper kind of clothing to keep the body heat at the normal
point. Plenty of rest and sleep are required. These cautions also apply to
rheumatism and neuralgias.
Multiple Neuritis.--Other names: Polyneuritis, Disseminated Neuritis,
Peripheral Neuritis. Meaning--Multiple neuritis is an inflammatory disease
of the peripheral (toward the end of the nerves or external nerves)
nervous system. It varies much in extent and intensity and affects
symmetrical parts of the body.
Varieties.--These arise from differences in the nature, causes, severity
and location of the disease process.
Causes.--They are many. (1.) The poison that comes from infectious
diseases such as typhoid fever, diphtheria, smallpox, leprosy, la grippe,
etc. (2) From poisons such as alcohol, lead, arsenic; phosphorus, mercury,
coal gas, etc. (3) From anemia, cancer, tuberculosis, syphilis,
septicemia, diabetes. (4) From cold, over-exertion, etc.
Symptoms.--Acute febrile multiple neuritis. A typical case: This comes on
from exposure to cold, over-exertion, or in some cases spontaneously.
There are chills, headaches, pains in the back, limbs and joints, and the
case may be called rheumatism. Loss of appetite, coated tongue,
constipation, and other symptoms of stomach and bowel trouble. The
temperature rises rapidly, and may go to 103 to 104 degrees. The limbs and
back ache, but intense pain in the nerves are not always constant. The
pain is usually sharp, severe, and located in the limbs, and is worse from
moving and pressure. There are tingling feelings in the hands, feet and
body, and a feeling as if ants or insects were crawling over them, and
there is also increased sensitiveness of the nerve trunks or entire limb.
There is loss of muscular power, first marked, perhaps, in the legs, and
it extends upwards and reaches the arms. Sometimes it first begins in the
arms. In typical cases the extending muscles of the wrist and ankles drop.
(Wristdrop and foot-drop). In severe cases there is a general loss of
muscular power, producing a flabby paralysis. This may extend to the
muscles that control speaking, swallowing and hearing resulting in
impairment of these functions. The muscles soften and waste away rapidly.
Disorders of nutrition are frequent, like watery swelling (oedema), glossy
looking skin, sweating, hives, etc.
[NERVOUS SYSTEM 279]
Recovery.--The course of the disease varies considerably. In mild cases
the symptoms disappear very soon. In the worst form the patient may die in
a week or ten days. As a rule, in moderately severe cases after persisting
for five or six weeks, the condition remains about the same for a few
months, and then improvement slowly begins and recovery takes place in six
to twelve months. In neuritis from alcohol drinking there is a rapid onset
as a rule, with delirium and delusions. The result is usually favorable
and after persisting for weeks or months improvement gradually begins, the
muscles regain their power, and even in the most desperate cases recovery
may follow. The mental symptoms are very severe in alcoholic cases.
Delirium is common. It takes much longer for such cases to regain what
they call their normal condition.
Neuritis following diphtheria and other infectious diseases. The outlook
in cases from these diseases is usually favorable, and except in
diphtheria, fatal cases are uncommon. It is most common from diphtheria.
Recovery, in neuritis from diphtheria, takes place in about three months,
but some cases are fatal.
Neuritis from lead.--The first symptoms are those of intestinal colic,
lead line on the gums, "dropped-wrist." The recovery is quite gradual and
the poison may be cast out in three to four months.
In Neuritis from Arsenic.--We have disturbance of the stomach and bowels
first, then the legs and arms are about equally affected, weakened; may
recover in two to six months.
Treatment for acute kind.--The first thing to do is to rest in bed and
control the pain and acute symptoms. Hot applications help to relieve the
suffering. Patient must be kept comfortably and constantly warm and quiet.
Hot applications of lead water and laudanum.
Medicines.--It may be necessary to use morphine to control the pain.
Remedies such as antipyrine or aspirin are often used. A physician must be
called. When the disease is caused by arsenic and lead and alcohol, of
course you must remove the cause before you can hope for any improvement.
Caution.--Any one can readily understand from reading this description
that the thing to do is to be careful not to needlessly expose yourself to
taking cold. One subject to rheumatism or neuritis, even in small degree,
should take care not only not to take cold but not to overdo in laboring;
cold, wet and over-exertion cause the majority of the acute attacks. But
some are caused by diseases, such as diphtheria, typhoid fever, etc., and
a great many cases of neuritis following these and other infectious
diseases can be avoided if proper care is taken during and after these
diseases. Such care can easily be taken. Keep your rooms warm and
comfortable, and the patient in bed or in a comfortable room until all
danger is past. How often I have heard a doctor blamed for such results
when in most cases it is the patient's or nurse's fault. Certain results
will follow certain diseases and only proper care can keep such results
from following. Dropsy frequently follows even a light case of scarlet
fever. Why? Simply because, on account of being a light case, the child is
left to roam at will about the rooms and catches cold, takes la grippe. If
people would only take care of themselves this disease would not leave so
many lifelong victims. I have seen men and women who have just recovered
from this disease stand on the street corners on a cold, damp day, and
talk an hour, and the next day they wondered how they could possibly have
taken cold. We cannot disobey the laws of nature safely. Persons who are
subject to neuritis or rheumatism should be especially careful on cold,
damp, wet days and of over-exertion.
[280 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]
GENERAL AND FUNCTIONAL BRAIN DISEASES. NERVOUS
PROSTRATION. NERVOUS EXHAUSTION.
NEURASTHENIA.
NERVOUS PROSTRATION.--Is a condition of weakness or exhaustion of the
nervous system, giving rise to various forms of mental and bodily
inefficiency.
Causes. 1. Hereditary causes.--Some children are born of parents who are
weak themselves, and who have led fast lives through business or pleasure
and these parents have given their offspring a weakened body, and the
children are handicapped with a nervous predisposition and furnish a
considerable proportion of "nervous" patients.
2. Acquired.--It is acquired by continual worry and overwork, sexual
indiscretion, excesses, irregular living and indiscretion in diet. A great
many business men, teachers and journalists become "neurasthenics." It may
follow infectious diseases, particularly influenza, typhoid fever and
syphilis. It also follows operations sometimes. Alcohol, tobacco, morphine
may produce a high grade of the disease, if their use is abused.
Symptoms.--These are varied. The most prominent symptom is fatigue. The
patient feels so tired and complains of being unable to do any mental
labor. It is almost impossible to put the mind on one subject for any
length of time. There are headache, dizziness, want of sleep, and there is
great depression of spirits; patient is gloomy, irritable in temper with
manifestations of hysteria. Sometimes there are marked symptoms of spinal
trouble. Pain along the spine with spots or areas of tenderness. Pains
simulating rheumatism are present. There is frequently great muscular
weakness, great prostration after the least exertion, and a feeling of
numbness, tingling, and neuralgic pains. In spinal symptoms, there is an
aching pain in the back, or in the back of the neck, which is a quite
constant complaint. Then there are the anxiety symptoms in many cases.
There may be only a fear of impending insanity or of approaching death, or
of apoplexy, in simple cases. More frequently the anxious feeling is
localized somewhere in the body, in the heart region, in the head, in the
abdomen, in the thorax (chest, etc.). In some cases the anxiety becomes
intense. They are so restless they do not know what to do with themselves.
They throw themselves on the bed, complain, and cry, etc. Sometimes the
patients become so desperate they commit suicide. Some patients do not
wish to see anyone. Some patients cannot read, reading wearies them so
much, or they get confused and dizzy and must stop. Some are very
irritable. They complain of everything. Remember they cannot help it,
usually. Some are easily insulted and claim they are misunderstood. The
circulation may be disturbed in some cases. Then there is palpitation of
the heart, irregular and very rapid pulse, pains, and feeling of
oppression around the heart, cold hands, and feet. The heart's action may
be increased by the least excitement and with the fast pulse and
palpitation there are feelings of dizziness and anxiety and such patients
are sure they have organic disease of the heart. No wonder. Flashes of
heat, especially in the head, and transient congestion of the skin are
distressing symptoms. Profuse sweating may occur. In women, especially,
and sometimes in men, the hands and feet are cold, the nose is red or
blue, and the face feels "pinched." Nervous dyspepsia is present in many
cases. The digestion is poor and slow and constipation accompanies it.
Sometimes there is neuralgia of the stomach. The sexual organs are
seemingly affected, many men are "almost scared to death" and they use all
sorts of quack remedies to restore their sexual vigor. Spermatorrhea is
their bugbear. They usually get well if they stop worrying. In women there
is the tender ovary and the menstruation may be painful or irregular. The
condition of the urine in these patients is important. Many cases are
complicated with lithaemia (sand-stone in the urine). It is sometimes also
increased in quantity.
[NERVOUS SYSTEM 281]
PHYSICIANS' TREATMENT for Nervous Prostration.--The patient must be
assured and made to believe that the disease is curable, but that it will
take time and earnest help on the part of the patient. Much medicine is
not needed, only enough to keep the system working well. Encouragement is
what is needed from attendants. Remove the patient from the causes that
produce the trouble, whether it be business, worry, over-study, too much
social duties, or excesses of any kind. The patient must have confidence
in the physician, and he must be attentive to the complaints of the
patient. It is the height of foolishness and absurdity for a physician to
tell such a patient before he has thoroughly examined him or her that the
troubles are imaginary. I believe that is not prudent in the majority of
cases. I have heard physicians talk that way to such patients. I thought,
what fools! The patient needs proper sympathy and sensible encouragement.
You must make them believe they are going to get well. If you do not wish
to do this, refuse such cases, or you will fail with them. If there are
any patients that need encouragement and kindly, sympathetic, judicious
"cheering up," these patients are the ones, and they generally are
"laughed at and made fun of" by people who should know better. Remember
their troubles are real to them, and are due to exhaustion or prostration
of the nervous system and this condition, as before described, produces
horrid feelings and sensations of almost every part of the body. The
patient must be made to believe that he may expect to get well; and he
must be told that much depends upon himself, and that he must make a
vigorous effort to overcome certain of his tendencies, and that all his
power of will will be needed to further the progress of the cure.
[282 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]
First, then, is rest.--Both mental and physical diversions, nutritious
though easily digested food, and removal of baneful influences as far as
possible. Physical exercise for the lazy. Rest for the anemic and weak.
For business or professional men the treatment is to get away and far off,
if possible, from business. It will often be found best to make out a
daily programme for those that must remain at home, something to keep the
mind busy without tiring, and then times of rest. The patient, if it is
possible, should be away from home if home influences and surroundings are
not agreeable. Dr. S. Weir Mitchell, of Philadelphia, has devised and
elaborated a cure, called a rest cure, for the relief of this class of
patients, and it is wonderfully successful especially in thin people. "Be
the symptoms what they may, as long as they are dependent upon nerve
strain, this 'cure' is to be resorted to, and if properly carried out is
often attended with surprising results." "A bright, airy, easily cleaned,
and comfortable room, is to be selected, and adjoining it, if possible,
should be a smaller one for an attendant or nurse. The patient is put to
bed and kept there from three to six weeks, or longer as may be necessary,
and during this time is allowed to see no one except the nurse and doctor,
since the presence of friends requires conversation and mental effort. The
patient in severe cases must be fed by the nurse in order to avoid
expenditure of the force required in the movement of the arms. No sitting
up in bed is allowed and if any reading is done it must be done by the
nurse who can read aloud for an hour a day (I have seen cases where even
that could not be done). In the case of women, the hair should be dressed
by the nurse to avoid any physical effort on the part of the patient. To
take the place of ordinary exercise, two measures are employed, the first
of which is massage or rubbing; the second, electricity. By the kneading
and rubbing of the muscles and skin the liquids in the tissues are
absorbed and poured into the lymph spaces, and a healthy blush is brought
to the skin. This passive exercise is performed in the morning or
afternoon, and should last from one-half to an hour, every part of the
body being kneaded, even the face and scalp. In the afternoon or morning
the various muscles should be passively exercised by electricity, each
muscle being made to contact by the application of the poles of the
battery to its motor points, the slowly interrupted current being used.
Neither of these forms of exercise call for any expenditure of nerve
force; they keep up the general nutrition. The following programme for a
day's existence is an example of what the physician should order:
[NERVOUS SYSTEM 283]
7:30 a. m.--Glass of hot or cold milk, predigested, boiled or raw as the
case requires.
8:00 a. m.--The nurse is to sponge the patient with tepid water or with
cold and hot water alternately to stimulate the skin and circulation, the
body being well wrapped in a blanket, except the portion which is being
bathed. After this the nurse should dry the part last wetted, with a rough
towel, using some friction to stimulate the skin.
8:30 a. m.--Breakfast. Boiled, poached or scrambled eggs, milk toast,
water toast, or a finely cut piece of mutton chop or chicken.
10:00 a. m.--Massage.
11:00 a. m.--A glass of milk, or a milk punch, or egg-nog.
12:00 m.--Reading for an hour.
1:00 p. m.--Dinner. Small piece of steak, rare roast beef, consomme soup,
mutton broth, and any one of the easily digested vegetables, well cooked.
3:00 p. m.--Electricity.
4:30 p. m.--A glass of milk, a milk punch or egg-nog.
6:30 p. m.--Supper. This should be very plain, no tea or coffee, but toast
and butter, milk, curds and whey, or a plain custard.