EXTERNAL APPLICATION OF VERATRIA, ETC. 27 
this case been resorted to, during the long continuance of the 
disease; but the palpitations and faintings never ceased, although 
the general health by great care had been preserved tolerably good. 
To relieve the disordered state of the stomach and bowels, the 
patient was now directed to take opening medicine, combined with 
antacids, along with small doses of blue pill, for a week; and by 
these means the dyspeptic symptoms were, to a certain extent, 
removed, but the affection of the heart still remained nearly as 
violent as ever. The Veratria ointment was then prescribed of the 
usual strength, and ordered to be rubbed every night over the left 
side of the thorax. She did not return till the end of a week from 
this time, and from her own account, as well as from examination, 
she then appeared very much better. During the interval the 
palpitation and syncope had been much relieved, and indeed the 
latter had not returned. The feeling of tightness and oppression 
was quite gone; the pulse was materially improved in character, 
but still rather irregular. She was directed to persevere in the 
application of the ointment; her health and appearance became 
gradually amended, and at the end of a month from the time at 
which the Veratria was had recourse to, she was quite well. 
External Application of Veratria in Neuralgic Affections. 
In no class of diseases have the beneficial effects of the Veratria 
ointment been more strikingly manifested than in that which it is_ 
now proposed to bring under consideration ; for in none are the 
symptoms productive of more distress to the patients, and by no 
other means can the same degree of relief be afforded in so short a 
period. | 
The external application of the Veratria has been made use of in 
neuralgic affections situated in every part of the body ; it is, how- 
ever, in tic-douloureux that the most remarkable and _ speedy 
change is effected in the state of the patient, for sometimes during 
the continuance of the first friction the paroxysm is brought to a 
termination, and does not again return ; and if this be not the case, 
the following interval is at least of greater length than any that 
may have previously occurred, and the next accession of pain is 
less severe, and more easily removed. 3 
The principal considerations to be attended to in the employ- 
ment of Veratria in tic-douloureux are connected with the part of 
the face, and the extent of surface, in the which the pain is situated, 
and the length of time the patient has laboured under the disease. 
With regard to the first of these, it has been found that in cases 
where the affection is not confined to one particular point, but has 
extended itself along the ramifications of the nerve in which it has 
its seat, the symptoms may be removed much more speedily, and 
by means of an ointment containing a smaller quantity of the Vera- 
tria than when the contrary is the case ; and this probably arises 
from the circumstance of their intensity in such instances being 
