NEURITIS (Nen-Lat., from Gk. eclpov, neu ron, nerve). A disease of a nerve o• of nerves, aceompanied by inflammation. Neuritis is either single o• multiple; interstitial or diffuse; toxic or infective. It is caused by injury to the nerve involved, o• infection such as from typhoid fever, or tuberculosis o• leprosy; or by toxic action of alcohol, arsenic, lead. etc.
The symptoms of localized neuritis are severe pain, somewhat relieved when the part is at rest and kept warm, sonic numbness, reduction of the sense of touch, loss of power in the muscles, and eventual atrophy. There may he smile contracting of the inuscles. with rosy color of the skin, and a peculiar glossiness.
Multiple neuritis is very frequent. It is caused by the toxins of several infectious diseases, as diphtheria, typhoid fever, smallpox, and scarlet fever, as well as those of alcohol. mercury. lead, gout, diabetes. cancer, and tuberculosis. In this form of neuritis the invasion is usually- acute, with fever•, pain in head, back, and legs, loss of power in arms and legs so that the patient can semi reels' climb the stairs. drop-wrist and drop
foot, nmseular wasting, tenderness in the nms cies, tremor, and sensory disturbances . Fe•e• is rare, and the invasion of the disease is slow. When alcohol is the cause, delirium and convul sions may occur, With hallucinations, somewhat resembling delirium Ircinens. Multiple neuritis is very frequent in other countries, under various names. it is called bcri-bcri mr kakk(c in Japan, China, New Zealand, India. Brazil, and the West Indies, in which countries it is endemic. Its course is similar to that of alcoholic multiple neuritis. Its mortality varies from 3 to 50 per cent. The mortality of alcoholic neuritis is not much smaller. Of those who continue the use of alcohol, 50 per cent. die of alcoholism. pneu monia, or tuberculosis. The treatment of mul tiple neuritis consists of elimination of the cause, rest in bed, phenacetin, sodium salieylate, strych nia, nitrate of silver, and chloride of ammonimn under a physician's directions.