[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).