THE NERVOUS SYSTEM I 33 



that they show us ways of living to be shunned in the 

 future. Many persons, however, not only derive no profit 

 from a headache, but by unwise efforts to cure the pain, 

 bring permanent injury to themselves in addition to the 

 suffering of the headache. 



Bromides, opium, and other poisons deaden and weaken 

 the nervous system while preventing the headache from 

 being felt. Headache powders, phenacetin, acetanelid, an- 

 tikamnia, and other vile poisons made from coal tar, shock 

 and weaken the heart and reduce the vital activities so 

 that the headache is no longer felt. In consequence of 

 shocks from repeated doses of such drugs, the heart will 

 not work so well, and may give way some time in the 

 future when an effort or strain makes unusual demands 

 upon it. Their use has made heart disease more preva- 

 lent. The liver and kidney cells and the white corpuscles 

 have to destroy and remove the drugs. Many people 

 are foolish enough to injure their bodies and risk death 

 rather than suffer pain or avoid pain by prudent living. 



Sick headaches are foretold by a dull feeling, sleepiness 

 after eating, a coated tongue, and constipation. It would 

 be better to remove the undigested, spoiled food from the 

 stomach (four glasses of water will cause vomiting) than 

 to take a drug. At the first indication of trouble, ab- 

 stain from eating, or use a fruit diet for twenty-four 

 hours, and drink water freely. This will enable the 

 body to dispose of the excess of waste matter. 



The Highest Living Medical Authority on Drugs. — Dr. 

 Osier, formerly of Johns Hopkins University and now 

 of Oxford University, says : 



" But the new school does not feel itself under obligation to give any 

 medicines whatever, while a generation ago not only could few phy- 

 sicians have held their practice unless they did, but few would have 



