Clinical observations on functional nervous disorders / [C. Handfield Jones].

  • Jones, C. Handfield (Charles Handfield), 1819-1890
Date:
1864
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Clinical observations on functional nervous disorders / [C. Handfield Jones]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    In many well-marked neuralgic affections there is evi¬ dent paralysis of the vaso-motor nerves in the seat of the pain; the vessels are injected, and lacrymation or some similar phenomenon ensues. This makes it pro¬ bable that the sensory nerves are in a similar state. Lastly, we may allude to the cure of neuralgia by Faradization as an illustration of its nature. The pain of a sensory nerve and the paralysis of a motor may both be removed by the stimulus of the interrupted current. This surely indicates that both states are similar. Even in organic neuralgia, it seems to me open to much question whether the affected nerve is in a state of exalted excitability, or simply of deranged and disordered nutrition. In lead-poisoning, the motor- nerves of the muscles are certainly paralyzed, the pains are diminished “ by pressure and friction ” (Romberg), and the whole phenomena are indicative of diminished rather than of increased vital action. In gouty neu¬ ralgia, if we take colicky and spasmodic affections for examples, the disorder is much more of an asthenic than of a hyperaesthetic character. The pain and suffering attending a characteristic outbreak of gout in the foot have much more the features of hyper- sesthesia than the colicky disorder. The latter usually requires some stimulant for its relief, and can by no means be dealt with as the articular inflammation. That a nerve which receives for nutrition blood poisoned by uric acid should be disordered in its acting, and thrown into a state conditionating pain, is very intel¬ ligible ; but it can hardly be regarded as having its functional power exalted. On the other hand, the nerve lying in a focus of inflammation by reason of the active hypersemia would seem really to be in a state of hypereesthesia. Its condition is analogous to that of