Alcohol
Ethanol also commonly called ethyl alcohol, drinking alcohol, or simply alcohol is the principal type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages, produced by the fermentation of sugars by yeasts. It is a neurotoxic psychoactive drug and one of the oldest recreational drugs used by humans. It can cause alcohol intoxication when consumed in sufficient quantity.
Ethanol is a volatile, flammable, colorless liquid with a slight chemical odor. It is used as an antiseptic, a solvent, a fuel, and, due to its low freezing point, the active fluid in post-mercury thermometers.
Neurosurgery
Indications
There are only two effective methods of treatment. Injection of alcohol into the involved division of the nerve gives relief for a period that averages from twelve to eighteen months. The affected area increases with succeeding attacks, the attacks last longer and the free intervals get shorter, it becomes increasingly diflicult to inject the nerves because of formation of scar tissue, and eventually all patients come to operation.
Division of the sensory root proximal to the Gasserian ganglion gives permanent relief from the pain. The dangers of this procedure are frequently put to the incapacitated suflerer on the basis of the high mortality of the early days of the operation. Many surgeons now have large series of cases with a mortality of less than 5 percent. Considering the advanced age of most of these patients, such a mortality is low for an operation which assures freedom from unbearable pain 1).