Sciatica, lumbago, and brachialgia : their nature and treatment, and their immediate relief and rapid cure by hypodermic injection of morphia / by Henry Lawson.
- Lawson, H. (Henry), -1877.
- Date:
- 1877
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Sciatica, lumbago, and brachialgia : their nature and treatment, and their immediate relief and rapid cure by hypodermic injection of morphia / by Henry Lawson. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.
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![And now, in conclusion, I must make a few remarks on the treatment of sciatica and lumbago by injections simply of ordinary cold water. In this mode of operation I have not the smallest faith—firstly, because I have never seen an instance of relief by it in others, though I have attempted it in various cases ; secondly, because I have tried it upon myself without the least effect. Possibly the reader will say that the reason in the latter case was that “ you knew the difference be- tween the two cases [viz., that in which mor- phia had been administered, and that in which it had not been given], and thus that the mental effect was prevented.” But this was not so. I specially took care that the syringe was filled by a second person, who completely con- cealed from me whether mere warm water or water containing morphia had been employed. Yet in each case I was enabled to tell exactly, in the course of from five to eight minutes, whether the morphia or simply water had been used. Indeed, I could detect the difference at once, before the syringe bad been well with- drawn, but I waited after each injection in order to be certain of the actual state of the case; and in no instance did I fail in my judgment.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b28148174_0244.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
