148 THE TREATMENT OP DISEASES. 



headache. The pain is usually felt in the temples and at the top of the head. It is 

 not very severe, but is just as if something were pressing down and out from the 

 inside. It is increased by abstinence from food and by the erect posture, and is often 

 removed by lying down. It is intensified, too, by thinking, reading, writing, <kc. It 

 usually comes on in the morning, during dressing, goes off after breakfast, comes on 

 again before luncheon, and so on. The pain is often throbbing in character, and is 

 accompanied by a feeling of fulness and weighty so that people often think there is 

 determination of blood to the head. In addition to the headache there may be noises- 

 in the ears and a general sense of pulsation all over. The noise is heard on both 

 sides, and is rumbling and low-pitched, like distant cart-wheels. All these symptoms 

 soon pass off when a little attention is paid to the general health. The great thing 

 is to take plenty of good nourishing food, and to remove the anaemia, or poorness 

 of blood, by iron and the other remedies recommended when speaking of that 

 complaint. 



The reverse condition congestion of the brain is not of infrequent occurrence. 

 It may be met with in the course of different fevers, when it is often the cause of 

 delirium, or it may occur quite independently of any other disease. Old people whose 

 tissues and blood-vessels are decaying not unfrequently suffer from this condition. 

 They find it comes on when they are weak or cold, or when they have been over- 

 exerting themselves, as in straining at stool or going up-stairs. Congestion of the 

 brain is undoubtedly in many cases due to a tight cravat or shirt-collar, and 

 people who have a tendency to apoplexy should look to this. It is a good rule to 

 have the collar so big that you can get both hands in between it and the neck. A 

 patient who suffers from congestion of the brain gets dull at times, and confused with 

 regard to the use of words. He cannot remember the names of people or things, 

 nor can he remember events that happened long ago. He exhibits a tendency to> 

 fall asleep after meals, and gets habitually stupid. All his sensations are more or less 

 obtuse, his hearing is not good, and even when he does hear a thing you have to- 

 repeat it three or four times before you can get him to understand it. He often com- 

 plains of numbness and giddiness, and sometimes says he sees things floating about 

 before his eyes, or hears rumbling noises in his ears. These symptoms are always 

 worse after lying down, and are increased by a meal, and more especially by over- 

 loading the stomach. Often enough there is a sense of general weakness and weight 

 in the limbs, which seem dead and heavy. There is never any actual loss of power in 

 the limbs, but every movement is attended with a sense of weariness or disgust. 

 Sometimes the forehead is hotter than the cheeks, and the lips and ears and the 

 loose tissue under the eyes are dusky red. The tongue is usually furred; there is 

 indigestion ; the bowels are sluggish, and often there is a tendency to shortness 

 of the breath. One always fears in these cases that if the case be not taken in time, 

 a fit may ensue. The great thing in the way of treatment is to pay attention to 

 &e general health, and see that i&e secretions are free. The bowels should be kept 

 perfectly regular ; and should there be a deficiency of urine, the amount should be 

 increased by taking some simple saline mixture or mineral water. The mind should 

 be kept as quiet as possible ; and it is a good thing to sleep with the head well 

 raised. Should the rest be disturbed, three table-spoonfuls of the bromide of potassium 



