Neuralgia and Kindred Diseases of the Nervous System

Abstract

In the January number of this Journal for 1872 Dr. Anstie's book on Neuralgia was reviewed, and now we have a larger volume on the same subject by Dr. Chapman. Dr. Anstie put forward the theory that the disease means weakness of the body, and especially anæmia and atrophy of certain nerve centres in the brain; Dr. Chapman thinks it has but little to do with weakened vitality, and results from hyperæmia of the nerve centres. Anstie says the general health of nearly all his patients was bad; Chapman avers that neuralgic patients “live on often to a ripe old age, the term of their existence not being appreciably shortened by the disease.” Anstie thinks it is a very hereditary disease indeed; Chapman does not think it very often so transmitted. The former treats it by all sorts of nutritive and tonic means; the latter treats it by “spinal ice bags.” But we shall allow Dr. Chapman to state his own theory on the whole subject.