£*•

360 ESOTERIC ANTHROPOLOGY.
is a paroxysmal and recurrent affection of the nerves of
internal organs. In every form it is an atrocious dis
ease, and the anguish is indescribable. The tooth
ache is a sample.
What are Ihe causes of neuralgia ? Every cause of
general disease may produce this particular develop
ment. Its center is dyspepsia. It is caused by nerv
ous exhaustion of any kind, or from any cause. Tea,
coffee, tobacco, high living, bad air, all unhealthy habits,
and particularly all exhausting passions, produce this
disease. It has been cured by surgical operations,
pulling teeth, or cutting off nerves ; but the last often
fails from the nerve reuniting. Abstinence from all
causes of disease is a cure. Cold water, even in a local
application, has cured cases which defied all the usual
remedies. The wet-sheet pack relieves and cures. In
severe cases we must use all means of purification and
invigoration. If it comes from dyspepsia, we must cure
that; if from uterine or ovarian disease, that must be
attended to. The local affection, when it can be reached,
may always be relieved by intense cold.
Gout and Rheumatism are nearly allied to these
nervous diseases. Gout is hereditary, and so, to pome
extent, is its milder neighbor. Gout is mostly confined
to the joints, especially of the extremities, and usually
attacks those of the great toe. Rheumatism attacks
every part of the body. Each is believed to leave ex
ternal for internal so organs, that we hear of gout in
the stomach and rheumatism in the heart. Both change
rapidly from one part to another. Gouty patients are
liable to violent affections of the brain, heart, lungs,
stomach, etc.