Causes.—­The affection may depend upon some functional disturbance alone; or it may be due to some organic disease of the nerve or to some disease or diseased state outside of the nervous system.  It occurs more frequently in women past the middle-age, in those of a nervous tendency.  As stated, it affects women more than men.  Debility is a frequent cause.  Neuralgia is frequently associated with the various forms of anemia.  It may occur at the onset of acute diseases like typhoid fever.  Exposure to cold causes it in susceptible persons.  Decayed teeth may cause neuralgia of the fifth nerve.  It also occurs in rheumatism, gout, lead poisoning, and diabetes.  Persistent neuralgia may be a feature of hidden Bright’s disease.

Symptoms.—­Pain is the chief and characteristic symptom.  It may develop suddenly and without warning, or soreness or stiffness in the tissues surrounding may precede it.  There is a burning or violent sensation in the course of the affected nerve, increased on exertion in acute cases.  In other cases the pain comes intermittently or in paroxysms, and is of a darting, stabbing character, or accompanied by tingling sensations.  There may be a want of sensation of the skin in the affected region or over-sensitiveness over the entire nerve-trunk with certain painful points.  The attacks of pain may come only at long intervals of time, but usually they occur every few minutes and last for some hours.  Pain may be continued for hours or days in severe cases.  In rare cases it may persist for months or years, being worse at a certain time each day, especially in cases where malaria exists.  There is paleness or congestion of the part affected, various eruptions, and changes in the color of the hair occur and, in advanced chronic cases, symptoms of interference with the general nutrition also occur.  Spasms of the adjacent muscles may accompany the severe paroxysms.

[262 Mothers’ remedies]

[Illustration:  The Nervous System.]

[Nervous system 263]

Varieties.—­Neuralgia may be classified according to its causes, as neurotic, toxic, rheumatic, etc.; or according to its location as trifacial, intercostal, sciatic, and so on, Exposure to cold, mechanical irritations, tumors, pressure on the nerves, and wounds may lead to neuralgia.  It is more frequent in cold and damp climates than in dry and warm locations; everyone should remember the causes.

Mothers’ remedies.  Neuralgia.—­1.  Lemon Juice as Liniment for.—­“Cut a lemon in two and squeeze juice on parts afflicted and rub in, then place hot cloths over it.  I know this will cure the pain.”  This is very good.

2.  Neuralgia, Salt and Vinegar Will Relieve.—­“A small sack of hot salt applied to the pain, or steam with vinegar.”  The heat from the salt is very effective and the moisture of the vinegar is also very good.  This simply produces a counter irritation.