Fairmont, W. Va., Jan. 2, 1889.
To the Editor:
—I was called, Dec. 29, 1898, to see a man 76 years old, who was suffering from a most intense neuralgia in the right side of the face. He gave a history of neuralgia for twenty-five years and, as usual, had gone the rounds for medical relief. He told me that if I did not succeed in relieving him he would be compelled to commit suicide, as he would not suffer longer. I gave him two deep injections of chloroform, eight minims each, and relieved him for a few hours. On the return of the pain I proposed removal of the nerve, to which he readily consented.On beginning to give ether, owing to his having taken much morphin, to make life bearable, his respiration ran down to six per minute, and I at once discontinued the ether and used cocain