SICK HEADACHE

Among the many ills that human flesh is heir to, there is none, per- haps, more common than headache. Headache may arise from a variety of causes, and there is no one remedy that is a specific for all. If the pain is of a throbbing and beating character it indicates fever; if sharp and shooting there is congestion of the arteries ; if dull and heavy the veins are congested. In either case the first thing to do is to try to draw the blood from the head to the extremities. Put the feet into a

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pa 1 of hot water. Use a pail, not a basin or wash-bowl, as it is neces- sary that the water should not only cover the feet, but come up as high on the calves of the legs as possible. Add hot water from time to time keeping the temperature as hot as can be borne.

Apply cold to the head. This may be done by taking a small bowl full of ice pounded fine, to which add two tablespoonsful of fine salt ; wrap in a cloth and apply half a minute at a time; or take one ounce of chloroform and dissolve in it all the camphor gum it will take up ; rub a little of this on the forehead and temples ; then wet a cloth (one thickness) with it, apply to the painful spot and cover with a dry cloth. This will cause a smarting sensation. When it becomes too hard to bear the cloth it may be removed and reapplied, if the headache has not disappeared.

A remedy, particularly valuable in certain forms of headache, is the bisulphide of carbon. Put a piece of cotton in a wide-mouth bottle, such a one as tooth powder usually comes in ; pour on it ten or fifteen drops of the liquid, and place the mouth of the bottle over the painful part. In about three minutes a tingling sensation will be felt. Let it remain until it begins to smart, then move it to another spot. Many cases have been relieved with this remedy in ten minutes that had been suffering for hours. The mouth of the bottle should be closely applied to the skin, excluding all air, as it is the vapor of the carbon acting upon the cutaneous nerves that produce the result. After using, the bottle should be tightly corked, as the odor is not a pleasant one.

Sick headache is a common disease among women. It arises from various causes, and is apt to occur at regular intervals. It is in most cases a curable disease, but as it is caused by different circumstances no specific treatment can be given without knowing the history of each case. When headache is the result of a cold or catarrh in the head, the following remedy, used when it first makes its appearance, will generally arrest it: Take of pure carbolic acid four scruples; ammonia water, one and a half drachms ; water, two drachms ; alcohol, one drachm ; mix; make a small cone of blotting paper and pour some of the mixture upon it and inhale through the nose.

In some forms of nervous headache, massage or gentle manipulation of the head will soothe like magic. Patients who were suffering extreme pain have often been relieved in a few minutes, and fell asleep under the operation. The operator should stand, the patient sitting in a chair in front of him. The clothing should be loosened about the waist and neck and the eyes closed. The operator dipping the hands in cool water places them on the forehead, the fingers of one hand pointing toward those of the other. Now separate the hands with a slow motion and moderately firm pressure, carrying them across the forehead down behind the ears. Repeat this motion about five times a minute for five

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minutes, then with each hand pick up the skin of the forehead, com- mencing over each eye, and give it a httle twisting or rolling motion between the fingers ; this motion should be repeated until the surface of the forehead and the temples has been worked upon. In the case of delicately wrought nervous organizations you will scarcely fail to obtain the result.

There is another form of the disease classed as headache, which is not really an ache, but a dizziness or giddiness. It may be only piomentary, or it may last for a long time. It generally comes on sud- denly and without warning.

This is sometimes due to errors in diet, but oftener to more serious trouble, and should never be neglected. The advice of a physician should be sought in all cases.