Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XII.djvu/270

 258 NEURALGIA NEUSE amid the ramifications of the nerves, as neuro- mata, fibrous tumors growing from the nerve sheath, and cancerous, aneurismal, cartilaginous, or bony tumors, so situated as to stretch or press upon the nerves ; 3, the bulbous expan- sion of the extremities of divided nerves, oc- curring after amputation, and causing painful stumps ; 4, the pinching of nerves in the cica- trices or scars of lacerated wounds. The suc- cessful treatment of a neuralgia depends of course on a correct appreciation of the causes that produce it. Where it arises from constitu- tional causes, it is generally amenable to treat- ment. The neuralgia that depends on an im- poverished state of the blood yields almost in- variably to iron tonics, good diet, and outdoor exercise ; that which arises from the effects of paludial poison disappears rapidly under the use of quinine ; neuralgia of rheumatic origin is ordinarily controlled by the preparations of col- chicum, the alkalis, alkaline and sulphur baths, &c. ; while the neuralgia caused by lead poison 4 has its specific antidote in the iodide of potas- sium, a remedy which is useful also in the neu- ralgia of syphilitic origin. The neuralgia which occurs in hysteria yields, like most of the pro- tean phenomena of that disease, to the mineral tonics, electricity, shower baths, and exercise. Before speaking of the treatment of the forms of neuralgia caused by local disease, it is to be remarked that the seat of pain in these cases does not always correspond with the location of the cause of irritation. For instance, a tumor within the cranium may produce pain at the extremity of the sensitive nerves, near the origin of which it is located; or pressure in the course of a nerve may cause pain in its ultimate ramifications. Where neuralgia is caused by irritation near the origin of the nerves, in the brain or spinal cord, its radical cure is generally impracticable; where it de- pends on the pressure of tumors that can be removed, the pain will generally disappear with the removal of the cause. In inflammation of the nerve sheath, local counter-irritation, by cups, blisters, issues, setons, &c., usually gives relief, and generally effects a cure. The neu- ralgia of painful stumps and scars, and of ob- stinate cases of inflammation of the neuri- lemma, requires surgical interference, such as reamputation, removal of the cicatrix, or ex- section of a portion of the diseased nerve. Temporary relief may be given in all forms of neuralgia by the administration of powerful anodynes. Those most commonly used are morphine, the active principle of opium, and aconitine, the active principle of the aconitum napellus or monkshood. These may be used internally or externally. A solution of mor- phine injected into the areolar tissue beneath the skin, near the seat of the neuralgia, gives more prompt relief than when given by the stomach. Aconitine is generally used external- ly, in the form of an ointment, rubbed upon the affected part. In most cases it rapidly relieves the neuralgic pain. NEFREUTHER, Engen, a German painter, born in Munich, Jan. 13, 1806. He studied under his father, Ludwig Neureuther, was employed by Cornelius in the arabesques and other em- bellishments of the Trojan hall in the Glypto- thek, and distinguished himself by illustrating Goethe. He visited Rome in 1837; from 1848 to 1856 he was director of the porcelain works in Nyrnphenburg, and subsequently became professor at the academy of Munich. Among his finest productions are designs after Wle- land's " Oberon" in the Konigsbau at Munich, and the external embellishments of the poly- technic institute, which was designed by hia brother Gottfried, an eminent architect. NEUROPTERA (Gr. vevpov, nerve, and Trrepdv, wing), an order of insects characterized by powerful jaws, four reticulated, membranous, naked wings, and the absence of sting or piercer. They include the dragon and May flies, ant lion, white ant, and similar preda- ceous insects, which undergo a complete or partial metamorphosis. The larvae are six- legged, voracious and carnivorous, living in the water, on trees, or in the ground. Only the white ants and the wood ticks are injurious to vegetation ; the others are rather beneficial to man by devouring aquatic and flying insects, plant lice, and similar pests. They are gener- ally of elegant proportions, often prettily marked, and possess great powers of flight. Kirby separated the May or caddis flies (phry- ganeadce), and formed of them his order tri- ckoptera. It is commonly believed that the ravages of white ants and their congeners are confined to tropical regions and to dead or decaying vegetation; but a few years ago a white ant, allied to the genus termes, was dis- covered at Salem, Mass., making its mines and galleries, destroying with its colonies the roots of grape vines in greenhouses, and making chambers even in the living wood. NEUSATZ (Hung. Ujvidelc), a town of S. Hun- gary, in the county of Bacs, on the left bank of the Danube, connected by a bridge with the opposite fortress of Peterwardein ; pop. in 1870, 19,119. A United Greek bishop resides, here, and the town contains an Armenian and several Greek, Roman Catholic, and Protestant churches, a synagogue, and a gymnasium. It was strongly fortified and prosperous until June 11, 1849, when it was stormed by the Austrians under Jellachich, and almost destroyed by the fire of the Hungarians from Peterwardein. It rapidly recovered, however. N. of the town is a line of Roman ramparts, erected by Tra- jan, which extends about 20 m. to the Theiss. NEUSE, a river of North Carolina, rising in Person co., in the N. part of the state. It flows generally S. E. about 300 m., and empties into Pamlico sound through an estuary several miles wide in the lower part and about 50 m. long. It is navigable by steamboats eight months of the year for more than 100 m. The most im- portant place on its banks is New Berne, at the mouth of its chief tributary, the Trent.