SCARLET FEVERS-SCIATICA SCURVY. 487 



Undoubtedly one of the best remedies for a stiff neck is an infusion of capsicum, 

 red pepper, or chillies, as it is sometimes called. The mode of preparation and 

 application is sufficiently simple. You infuse a large handful of crushed capsicum 

 pods in a pint of hot or cold water for thirty -six hours. You then soak a pie( e 

 of lint in this infusion and apply it to the affected part, covering it all over with 

 a thin piece of gutta-percha or oil-silk to prevent evaporation. Tliis mode of 

 treatment was long and successfully employed by a quack in the west of England. 

 It never blisters or causes any inconvenience, and is so prompt in its action that 

 it will often completely cure a bad case in ten minutes. 



In the majority of cases we should put our trust in local applications, and above 

 all in the capsicum treatment. The Turkish bath often proves useful as an adjunct 



SCARLET FEVER. (See DISEASES OF CHILDREN, p. 41.) 

 SCIATICA. 



Sciatica is neuralgia affecting the large nerve running down the back of the 

 thigh. It not infrequently arises from cold, but may be due to other causes. 

 The pain may be felt chiefly in the region of the hip-joint, or may extend 

 almost to the foot. It is usually severe and greatly aggravated by movement 

 Not infrequently it is very persistent and difficult to cure. 



Hints as to treatment may be gathered from a perusal of the articles on 

 NEURALGIA and RHEUMATISM. It would be well to begin with a course of iodide 

 of potassium, as recommended at page 479, two table-spoonfuls of the mixture 

 (Pr. 32) being taken three times a day. This might be conjoined with the em- 

 ployment of Turkish baths, one being taken daily or alternate days. Should this 

 not succeed, the dose of the mixture may be doubled, and the application of hot 

 linseed meal poultices (see p. 485) substituted for the Turkish bath. Should 

 this, too, unfortunately fail, chloride of ammonium might be taken internally (see 

 p. 418), and the aconite ointment (p. 421) applied locally. A large blister 

 running down the back of the thigh from the hip to the knee-joint often affords 

 speedy relief. It may be raised by the application of blistering fluid, and if 

 covered with a large sheet of cotton wool, gives rise to very little pain or incon- 

 venience. Acupuncture (p. 484), galvanism (p. 485), and freezing (p. 485) with 

 ice or ether spray, are all useful modes of treatment, and may be tried in turn. 

 Sulphur, an old-fashioned remedy (p. 481), will sometimes effect a cure, as will 

 the application of an infusion of chillies, as mentioned above (p. 487). 



Turpentine, twenty drops in a little milk three times a day, is another good 

 remedy. Some doctors give more than this, as much even as a table-spoonful 

 every night at bed-time for a week or more. In obstinate cases it may become 

 necessary to employ hypodermic injections of morphia. 



SCURVY. 



Scurvy, or scorbutus, as it is technically called, is a disease which is caused 

 by the continued use of a dietary deficient in fresh vegetables. 



