Lectures on some points in the treatment and management of neuroses.

  • Seguin, E. C. (Edward Constant), 1843-1898.
Date:
1890
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Lectures on some points in the treatment and management of neuroses. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University Libraries/Information Services, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University.

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    only a few words of explanation. I combine the red iodide of mercury, in doses gradually increased from one twentieth of a grain (0003) to one sixth or one fifth of a grain (O-Ql) with from twenty to forty-five grains (1'50 to o'OO) of iodide of potassium in water, 3 j (4'0), largely diluted after each meal. Though I have several times given the larger doses of potassium iodide—from 60 to 150 grains (4*0 to 10*0) three times a day—I think that is rarely ad- visable. This medication I continue for two or three months steadily, then give a month's course of it every few months afterward. Very often, if not always, as a case of trigeminal neu- ralgia approaches cure there are spots or areas on the face or head that are exquisitely sensitive to touch, and irritation of them gives rise to a momentary return of more or less of the original pain. This hyperaesthesia can readily be over- come by blistering or lightly cauterizing the part. In the last ten years I have several times successfully employed this accessory treatment; in the last case, during the past winter, a hyperaesthetic and algogenic spot on the lower lip was rendered normal by one application of the Paquelin cautery. It has also been my custom to give an abundance of nutritious food to these patients, and cod-liver oil as well. They often present themselves in an emaciated, anajmic condition from starvation. Chewing is impossible in many cases, and swallowing is so painful that they take as little food as possible to escape paroxysms of neuralgia. In this stage, before the pain is subdued, I order stated quantities of rich milk, or cream and milk, to be taken in twenty- four hours; also so many eggs (from four to eight) taken raw, or beaten with the milk, or slightly cooked. Often it is well to allow some brandy or whisky with the milk. I also urge the patient to take the expressed juice of beef,