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Angina Pectoris.The paroxysm usually begins suddenly, compelling the patient to remain perfectly quiet, and inspiring him with a feeling of inde scribable dread, so that he seems often afraid to move or even to breathe deeply. The surface is usually cold and frequently bathed with clammy perspiration. The heart's action is usually tumultu ous and disordered, adding to the patient's distress. Angina pectoris is, as has been said, usually an incident in organic disease of the heart or of the aorta; and in the majority of cases the evidence of such disease is apparent upon close examina tion; the angina is in fact merely a severe neuralgia accompanying the heart disease. Angina is a dangerous affection, or to speak more correctly, the cases of heart disease in which this severe form of neuralgia occurs usually terminate fatally. Death often occurs suddenly, frequently during a paroxysm of pain. On the other hand there are some cases of this rare disease in which there is no evidence of serious affection of the heart, and which may recur for years without imperiling the life of the individual. Generally speaking, we may say that the danger is proportional to the disease of the heart and not to the intensity of the pain. Beside the genuine angina pectoris there may occur neuralgic pains in the chest and near the heart, which do not depend at all upon nor originate in the heart, and which should therefore be dis tinguished from the latter variety. These slight neuralgic attacks may be confined to the chest wall, or may originate in distentiori of the stomach with gas ; an examination of the heart by a com petent physician will usually detect the true nature of the complaint. The real angina affects women but rarely, and is not frequent before the age of 30 years. The treatment consists of measures for the relief of the par oxysm ; and this relief can be best afforded by the use of opium in some form. The most effectual way is the hypodermic injection of morphia, one-eighth to one-fourth of a grain, according to the intensity of the pain. If no physician can be secured, it will be better to administer the same quantity of the drug by the stomach ; or if that is not procurable, twenty drops of laudanum may be given at once, and repeated in half an hour if the pain still be severe. A light mustard plaster or chloroform liniment may be applied over the chest. It is also desirable to avoid such influences as can pro voke a paroxysm-excess in food or drink, mental strain and phys ical effort. But first, if you want to come back to this web site again, just add it to your bookmarks or favorites now! Then you'll find it easy! Also, please consider sharing our helpful website with your online friends.
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