The use & abuse of antiseptics

Diagnostic novocaine block is a safe and simple procedure. We have used it to date in 29 cases with only a single confusing result.It gives both the surgeon and the patient an exact idea of what a proposed operation on the peripheral nerves or sympathetic ganglia is capable of accomplishing.It shows just which spinal nerves or sympathetic rami are conducting pain and how many must be interrupted to desensitize the patient.In peripheral circulatory disease novocaine block of the regional vasomotor nerves shows in a quantitative fashion how much circulation can be improved by ganglionectomy.The test has proved to be of the greatest value in planning new ways of relieving pain in angina pectoris, aneurysm, tabes dorsalis, causalgia, amputation stump neuralgias, and other conditions of unknown cause.