EXCESSIVE MOTOR ACTIVITY. 505 



Food and stimulants are, as a ride, urgently indicated in 

 protracted pain. 



2. Loss of Common Sensibility. Neither this nor the allied 

 condition of loss of touch (ancesthesia) very often [calls for 

 treatment, and the large number of nerve irritants which we 

 possess in the Acids, Metallic Salts, Mustard, etc., are seldom 

 used for this purpose. Pyrethrum is sometimes given in 

 anaesthesia of the mouth. 



3. Paralysis. The rational treatment of paralysis will 

 depend entirely on its nature, and the seat of its cause; and 

 this, as in the case of pain, must be ascertained as accurately 

 as possible. If the lesion be cerebral, general remedies must be 

 directed to relieve the pathological state, such as Mercury in 

 syphilis, cardiac measures in vascular rupture, and so on. Rest 

 of the mind, e.g. by Bromides, will be all important. There is 

 no indication, as a rule, to increase the activity of the damaged 

 centres, except after a time by the use of the will; on the 

 contrary, all cerebral stimulants, such as alcohol, are better to 

 be avoided. In paralysis from disease of the cord, the same 

 general system of treatment is to be followed, but Strychnia 

 may be tried as a direct stimulant of the affected part, sometimes 

 with success. In paralysis due to injury or disease of the 

 nerve trunks or peripheral nerves, the cause must be carefully 

 searched for and if possible removed, e.g. tumours. The local 

 injection of Strychnia appears to benefit some cases. In every 

 kind of paralysis, local treatment must be carried on along with 

 general, and consists chiefly in exercise of the terminal nerves 

 and muscles by electricity, friction, and passive movements, 

 with the "view of sustaining the local circulation and nutri- 

 tion until the centres shall have been restored. 



4. Excessive Motor Activity in the form of spasm, tremors, 

 and convulsions being generally due to peripheral irritation 

 reflected through the centres, is rationally treated by removal 

 of the cause. The convulsions of children, for instance, 

 are generally to be treated by stomachics and purgatives; 

 the spasms of adults by carminatives. But in many cases 

 it may be necessary also to employ remedies which depress 

 the reflective centres, such as the Bromides and Opium. 

 When the cerebrum is believed to be the seat of disorder or 

 disease attended by these symptoms, e.g. epilepsy, the Bromides 

 are of great service, whilst tetanus, hydrophobia, and other 

 spasmodic diseases with better defined organic causes in the 

 cord and medulla, may be rationally treated by Physostigma 

 and Chloral. It cannot be said, however, that much success 

 rewards such treatment, possibly because employed, as a rule, 

 too late. When the spasm appears to be due to purely local 



