Pain: Its Experimental Investigation

Abstract

Dr Robert Smith discusses the relationship between pain and emotional disturbance and describes experiments which he has undertaken in general practice, using a pressure algometer. Amongst other findings, he shows that aspirin did not relieve pressure pain but did delay or even suppress the onset of ultraviolet light burns. Dr K D Keele describes experiments to define individual pain thresholds and correlates these with the pain of cardiac infarction, and the morphine requirements in that condition. Professor C A Keele considers the chemistry of pain production and describes his technique for applying chemical algogens to experimentally induced blisters. He further considers the similarity between such substances and those contained in animal and plant venoms and speculates as to an even closer relationship between these and painful medical conditions.