206 NEURALGIA. 



it can be avoided; apply cold to the head until medical 

 aid can be obtained. 



Neuralgia is a diseased condition attended with in- 

 tense pain, which may attack almost any part of the 

 body. It seems to depend on an altered or disordered 

 state of the nerves themselves, for usually nothing can 

 be found wrong in the organ in which the pain is felt. 

 Thus the teeth or the stomach may appear to be perfect- 

 ly sound in their structure, and yet suffer intensely from 

 neuralgia. The almost unbearable pain often leads to 

 the use of alcohol, opium, and chloral (Chap. XX.), drugs 

 which, while giving temporary relief, tend to increase 

 the diseased condition of the nerves. Some persons 

 have organizations more nervous than those of others, 

 and under unfavorable conditions of life are very apt 

 to become victims of neuralgia. These persons may 

 be recognized by their tendency to undertake more 

 than they have the strength to perform safely, and to 

 be extreme in all their feelings. They should guard 

 against lives of excitement, and be careful to secure 

 plenty of sleep, and not to allow themselves to be over- 

 driven by ambition. 



3. The Three Great Sources of Nervons Health are a 

 brave heart, a cheerful disposition, and plenty of sleep. 



Nothing wears the nerves like worry. The child at 

 school who keeps a brave heart for whatever may hap- 

 pen stands a better chance of success than the one who 

 wears his nerves out with constant dread of failure. One 



does it depend ? Illustrate. To what does it often lead ? How 

 may persons apt to become neuralgic be recognized ? What precau- 

 tions should they take ? 



3. What are the three great sources of nervous health ? What is 

 said of worry ? Of the effect of a brave heart in promoting success ? 

 Of the benefits of a cheerful disposition ? 



