The only symptom of neuralgia generally, is a violent plunging and darting pain, which comes on in paroxysms; except in very severe and protracted cases, there is no outward redness nor swelling to mark the seat of the pain, neither is there usually constitutional derangement, other than that which may be caused by want of rest, and the extreme agony of the suffering while it lasts, which may be from one to two or three hours, or even more, but it is not commonly so long. Tenderness and swelling of the part sometimes occurs, where there has been a frequent recurrence and long continuance of the pain, which leaves the patient, in most cases, as suddenly as it comes on; its periodic returns and remissions, and absence of inflamma- 204 Tue Domixion Cook Book. tory symptoms, are distinctive marks of the disease. Among. — its exciting causes, we may mention exposure to damp and cold, especially if combined with malaria; and to these influ-— ences a person with a debilitated constitution will be more sub- ject than another. Anxiety of mind will sometimes bring it on, and so will a disordered state of the stomach, more particularly a state in which there is too much acid. Ne As for ¢reatmeni, that, of course, must depend upon the cause; if it is a decayed tooth, which, by its exposure of the nerve to the action of the atmosphere, sets up this pain, it should be at once removed, as there wi!l be little peace for the patient until there is; if co-existent with neuralgia there is a disordered stomach, suspicion should at once point thereto, and efforts should be made to correct the disorder there. If the patient is living ina moist, low situation, he should at once be removed to a higher level, and a dry, gravelly soil.. Tonics, such as Quinine and Iron, should be given, and a tolerably generous diet, but without excess of any kind. In facial Neuralgia, blisters behind the ears, or at the back of the neck, have been — found serviceable, and, if the course of the nerve which appears to be the seat of mischief can be traced, a Belladonna plaster or a piece of rag soaked in Laudanum and laid along it, will sometimes give relief ; so will hot fomentations of poppies and camomiles, or bran poultices sprinkled with turpentine. In very severe cases 4 of a grain of Morphine may be given to — deaden the nervous sensibility, and induce sleep, which the — patient is often deprived of at night, the pain coming on as | soon as he gets warm in bed. a An application of Chloroform on lint has sometimes proved - very effectual in relieving severe Neuralgic pains, and so has an ointment composed of Lard and Veratrine, in the propor . tion of six grains to the ounce. . A mixture of Chloroform and Aconite has been recommended ~ for facial Neuralgia, the form of preparation being two parts of Spirits of Wine, or Eau de Cologne, one of Chloroform, and ~ one of Tincture of Aconite, to be applied to the gums of the _ side affected, by means of a finger covered with a piece of — lint, or soft linen, and rubbed along them ; the danger of drop- — ping any into the mouth being thus avoided. When the pain — is connected with some organic disease, as a decayed tooth, — or chronic inflammation of the gums, or of the sockets or supers — ~ i. " eo Tue Doctor. agg:

AI-modernized reading of the original text

The only symptom of neuralgia generally, is a violent plunging and darting pain, which comes on in paroxysms; except in very severe and protracted cases, there is no outward redness nor swelling to mark the seat of the pain, neither is there usually constitutional derangement, other than that which may be caused by want of rest, and the extreme agony of the suffering while it lasts, which may be from one to two or three hours, or even more, but it is not commonly so long. Tenderness and swelling of the part sometimes occurs, where there has been a frequent recurrence and long continuance of the pain, which leaves the patient, in most cases, as suddenly as it comes on; its periodic returns and remissions, and absence of inflamma- [illustration: 204 The Dominion Cook Book] tory symptoms, are distinctive marks of the disease. Among— its exciting causes, we may mention exposure to damp and cold, especially if combined with malaria; and to these infinfluences a person with a debilitated constitution will be more subject than another. Anxiety of mind will sometimes bring it on, and so will a disordered state of the stomach, more particularly a state in which there is too much acid. As for treatment, that, of course, must depend upon the cause; if it is a decayed tooth, which, by its exposure of the nerve to the action of the atmosphere, sets up this pain, it should be at once removed, as there will be little peace for the patient until there is; if co-existent with neuralgia there is a disordered stomach, suspicion should at once point thereto, and efforts should be made to correct the disorder there. If the patient is living ina moist, low situation, he should at once be removed to a higher level, and a dry, gravelly soil.. Tonics, such as Quinine and Iron, should be given, and a tolerably generous diet, but without excess of any kind. In facial Neuralgia, blisters behind the ears, or at the back of the neck, have been — found serviceable, and, if the course of the nerve which appears to be the seat of mischief can be traced, a Belladonna plaster or a piece of rag soaked in Laudanum and laid along it, will sometimes give relief; so will hot fomentations of poppies and camomiles, or bran poultices sprinkled with turpentine. In very severe cases 1/4 of a grain of Morphine may be given to — deaden the nervous sensibility, and induce sleep, which the patient is often deprived of at night, the pain coming on as soon as he gets warm in bed. An application of Chloroform on lint has sometimes proved - very effectual in relieving severe Neuralgic pains, and so has an ointment composed of Lard and Veratrine, in the proportion of six grains to the ounce. A mixture of Chloroform and Aconite has been recommended for facial Neuralgia, the form of preparation being two parts of Spirits of Wine, or Eau de Cologne, one of Chloroform, and one of Tincture of Aconite, to be applied to the gums of the side affected, by means of a finger covered with a piece of lint, or soft linen, and rubbed along them; the danger of dropping any into the mouth being thus avoided. When the pain is connected with some organic disease, as a decayed tooth, or chronic inflammation of the gums, or of the sockets or supers— ~ i. " eo The Doctor.

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