COUNTEE-IEEITANTS 699, 



is purely neuralgic. The phenomenon is not altogether ex- 

 plicable. _ The subduing influence of a twitch in the case of 

 pain inflicted upon a horse is an analogous example. Wechs- 

 berg, in some late experiments, notes, as a most striking 

 effect of counter-irritants, (Edematous infiltration of the skin, 

 subcutaneous tissue and muscle in sub-adjacent parts, with 

 compression of blood vessels in the deeper-lying structures. 

 He attributes the relief of pain afforded by counter-irritants 

 to anemia and rapid compression brought to bear on the 

 nerves in these underlying parts. 



Still this explanation does not interpret the relief of 

 pain sometimes seen in parts remote from the point of appli- 

 cation of counter-irritants. 



In disease of internal organs Head has constantly found 

 certain corresponding areas of skin tenderness. This be- 

 cause both the internal organ and the skin area are innervated 

 from the same segment of the brain or cord. Theoretically 

 and practically counfer-irritation of a skin area affects the 

 internal organ corresponding (by nervous connection) to it 

 more than other parts. These areas of skin tenderness for, 

 diseased internal organs, and for application of skin irritants 

 to relieve these conditions, have been mapped out in man. 

 In the case of the chest and belly they are situated pretty 

 nearly over the site of the internal organ. In the head the 

 sensitive skin-sites are not over the diseased part. 



Pain is usually referable to the peripheral ends of an 

 affected nerve. It is good practice to apply counter-irrita- 

 tion directly over a deep-seated inflammation or seat of pain 

 (see above), but in assuaging superficial pain it is found, 

 that where the treatment can be made over the root of the 

 painful nerve, better results are obtained. In pain in the 

 chest wall a blister should be placed next the spine over the 

 root of the spinal nerve involved; in pain in the head in man, 

 counter-irritation is. applied over the back of the neck. 

 Counter-irritation should be done over the temple, in pain in 

 the eye(iritis) ; behind the ear, for pain in that organ. 



In the treatment of enlarged glands and in acute inflam- 

 mations, as abscess, boils and carbuncles, by counter-irri- 

 tants, the application should be about the lesions rather than 

 directly upon them. 



Among other actions accomplished by counter-irritants 

 are: possible stimulation of trophic nerves and nutrition of 



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