The  modus  operandi  of  mechanical  vibration
when  it  is  scientifically  applied  in  inflanmiatory
processes  is  that  it  relieves  local  stasis  and  promotes
absorption.  As  the  neural  congestion  is  due  to  ''an
accumulation  of  toxic  wastes  in  the  blood  with  in-
testinal torpor"  and  consequent  auto-intoxication
and  resultant  j)ain  from  the  presence  of  toxic  wastes,
indications  are  to  remove  the  intestinal  accumula-
tions by  colonic  flushings  or  castor  oil  and  correct  the
diet  as  in  migraine.  Water  should  also  be  partaken
of  freely.  In  the  treatment  of  the  neuralgia  that  so
frequently  accompanies  neuritis,  general  vaso-dilata-
tion  is  indicated  which  may  be  accomplished  by  me-
chanical vibration  applied  to  the  spine  (see  Chap.
VII)  or  d'Arsonvalization,  or  by  local  treatment  to
cause  constriction  of  the  peripheral  arterioles  or  to


APPLICATION  TO  THE  NERVOUS  SYSTEM


345


cause  ''depletion  of  .perineural  arterioles  and  there-
fore of  the  endoneural  capillaries."*
Hot  Epsom  salt  baths  as  sometimes  given  in  the


tcciput


vert.
vert.  -


vert.  ■•


vert.
vert,


To  sympathetic
To  hypoglossal
To  vagus

Small  occipital

C.  with  spin,  accesa.
Mastoid

Auricular

Facial

Gt.  auricular

Super,  cervical

Communicans   noni
C.  with  spin,  access.
^         __«———-   Phrenic.
Fig.  50. Plan  of  Cervical  plexus  with   fliagrammatic  illustration   of  ver-
tebral exits  of  nerves  forming  the  same.
*  Sajous.      The    Internal    Secretions    and    the    Principles    of    Medicine,
page  1544.
346  •    MECHANICAL  VIBRATION

treatment  of  rheumatoid  arthritis  prove  palliative  in
some  cases.
