NERVOUS DISORDERS. — It iS in the treatment of neuralgia that antipyrine finds its best place. In hemicrania, sci atica, lumbago, the fulgurant pains of locomotor ataxia, the neuralgic pains of dysmenorrhoea when of ovarian origin, and in pains of nervous origin generally, antipyrine will be found of great value, being both efficient and prompt in its action. Small doses, from 5 to 10 grains every four hours are generally efficient. If ineffectual, the dose should be in creased with caution, or the interval between the doses be shortened. In spas modic conditions referable to the nervous system, bronchial asthma, laryngism us stridulus, pseudo-angina (not in true angina), and idiopathic epilepsy the fol lowing combination has been recom mended by H. C. Wood:— 1 Antipyrine, 6 grains.
Ammonium bromide, 20 grains.— M.
To be administered three times a day.
Forty-three eases of idiopathic epi lepsy, in which the most excellent re sults were obtained by a combination of antipyrine and bromide of ammonium, as first suggested by H. C. Wood. The combination did not fail to give relief in a single one of the cases reported, and neither bromism nor the disagree able effects often produced by antipy rine were observed. The dose employed in adults was 6 grains of antipyrine and 20 grains of bromide of ammonium three times a day. Charles S. Potts (Univ. Med. Meg., No. 1, '90).
Beneficial effects in forty out of sixty cases, but in three-fifths of these cases the affection recurred. One-half to 1 72 drachms well tolerated for some weeks. Leroux (Revue Men. des Mal. de l'En fance, June, '91).
[Antipyrine in 15-grain doses is prob ably the best of all drugs in systematic dysmenorrhoea, especially if accompanied by headache. E. E. MONTGOMERY, Assoc. Ed., Annual, '94.] Tried in an obstinate case of puer peral coccygodynia of two years' dura tion in which extirpation of the coccyx was seriously contemplated. Immedi ately after the first injection of a Pravaz syringeful the pain markedly decreased, while after a third it disappeared al together and never recurred. Goenner (Corresp. f. Schweizer Aerzte, Jan. 25,
'95).
Case of cxophthalmic goitre with pe culiar eye-symptoms. Under antipyrine treatment retraction of the upper lid (Steil wag's symptom) disappeared, while failure of lid to descend upon downward movement of the eye (Graefe's symp tom) remained unchanged. J. Hinshel wood (Brit. Med. Jour., Aug. 20, '98).
Antipyrine is essentially a nervinc, and acts as an analgesic and antispas modic. In pertussis, therefore, it is plainly indicated. By diminishing the irritability of the superior laryngeal nerve, which, by reflex, produces the cough, it arrests the attacks of cough ing and prevents secondary symptoms. This action on the nervous element of the cough is the least disputed of the effects of antipyrine in pertussis. Of eighteen patients seen by le Goff, in seventeen the number of attacks and their intensity diminished considerably, and in nine recovery occurred in less than twenty-five days, thus considerably reducing the duration of the disease. Antipyrine being an antiseptic, the in fectious principle of the disease is also reached.
Fifteen cases treated with antipyrine with marked success, the drug proving inefficient in only one instance. In sonic cases the effects were really astonishing; this was especially the fact when treat ment was commenced in the early stages, at a time when medication is generally useless. In may instances the disease appeared to be aborted, and in others it was rendered so mild as to be insig nificant. J. P. C. Griffith (Thee. Gaz., Feb. 15, 'SS).
Antipyrine employed in 300 cases of pertussis in which 196 patients were cured or benefited. The average dura tion of the treatment was thirty-five days. From 5 to 15 grains for children up to 3 years of age, and from 30 to 60 grains for older children and adults. The only symptom observed to follow the use of antipyrine is albuminuria, which appeared in two cases; it dis appeared, however, rapidly after the cessation of the use of the drug and the establishment of a milk diet. Le Goff (Gaz. Heb. de Med. et de Chir., Oct. 22, '96).