The ordinary anodynes and antispasmodics do not give us full satisfaction in the muscular spasms following fractures. It is true that they help somewhat, yet even under the influence of morphine the patient, though quiet when awake, is aroused from his sleep by repeated painful contractions, which continue for days to be a serious source of distress.
In three such cases I have given sulfonal in doses of 15 grs., repeated if necessary, say once in four to six hours. In each case the medicine has stopped the spasmodic twitches completely, giving the patient a wonderful relief. If further experience confirms this result, sulfonal will be a great boon to surgeons and to their patients.
There are other varieties of reflex spasm which may perhaps be relieved by the same remedy. For instance, in hip disease, the inflamed head of the femur provokes frequent nocturnal spasms of the adjacent muscles,