HEADACHE. 323 



therefore in some measure artificial, mode of life requires. Among these may be 

 instanced regularity in. diet, carefulness in adapting the clothing to the requirements 

 of our variable climate, attention to the action of the bowels, and sufficient exercise 

 in the open air. 



We must now speak of the treatment of headache, beginning with that form 

 which is d<'pnid*'iit on organic disease of the brain. It might be thought that in 

 these cases we should be powerless to give relief, but such is not always the case, 

 and we can often do a great deal of good. A permanent pain confined to one spot, 

 ami believed to be due to serious brain disease is often best met by the application 

 of a blister over the part. Large doses of iodide of potassium taken frequently 

 say three or four tablespoonfuls of the mixture (Pr. 32) three or four times a day 

 often succeed admirably. This drug is especially indicated when there is any sus- 

 picion of a syphilitic taint, or when the pain is worse at night. It is not uncommon 

 to meet with patients, generally men, who complain of pain in the head, usually 

 throbbing in character, sometimes accompanied by intolerance of light This pain 

 is worse or perhaps felt only at night, and is so severe that it seems as if it would 

 drive the sufferer mad. It may be felt over the whole head, or may begin at the 

 back of the neck, and pass over the vertex of the brow. The pain is very apt to 

 be increased by alcohol. Iodide of potassium will nearly always effect a cure in a 

 week or two. Should the patient in any case be restless at night it may be necessary 

 to give a dose of bromide of potassium (Pr. 37) with or without chloral, at bed-time, 

 to produce sleep. Should other measures fail, the hypodermic injection of morphia 

 may have to be resorted to for the relief of pain. Many of the remedies used for 

 other kinds of headache are applicable to the form due to organic disease. 



In congestive headache, rest is almost essential to successful treatment. An easy 

 thing, it may be said, to recommend, but how difficult to obtain. Even when com- 

 plete rest is out of the question, partial rest and additional relaxation may be 

 attended with marked benefit. Often enough attention to little matters of detail as 

 regards the habits of the sufferer may give marked relief. In the busy part of the 

 day the thinker or writer may find advantage in standing at a desk instead of sitting 

 down and leaning over a table. The diet should be spare, and beer and spirits 

 should be avoided. Active exercise in the fresh air and habits of early rising should 

 be enforced ; and these measures when rigorously carried out afford the best promise 

 of relief. It is important to get the bowels to act well, and for this purpose two- 

 thirds of a tumblerful of Friedrichschall water in a little warm water may be taken 

 once or twice a week, the first thing in the morning. A few doses of Lamplough's 

 Effervescing Pyretic Saline will often be found of service in these cases. In 

 nervous and irritable subjects, who are upset by worry and over-work, bromide of 

 potassium (Pr. 31) is a good remedy. 



In many cases of congestive headache nothing succeeds better than aconite. It 

 is indicated when there is a violent cornpressive pain above the root of the nose, 

 with heaviness and fulness- in the forehead as if it would split ; when there is a 

 flushed face on lying down, but pale on sitting up ; when there is great restlessness ; 

 when the tongue is furred, and the whites of the eyes are yellow ; when the urine 

 is hot and scanty and high-coloured ; when the pulse is full and bounding, and the 



