HEADACHE. 325 



say that, judging from the prescriptions I have met with, this medicine is usually 

 given in doses far too small. My own knowledge of the larger doses was in the first 

 instance accidental For a lady suffering from spasm of the larynx, I had prescribed 

 a grain of valerianate of zinc in a powder (she was unable to swallow a pill), to be 

 taken every three hours. Six grains had been directed to be distributed into six 

 powders, but the dispenser had sent six powders, each containing six grains. In the 

 morning I found that the powders had been taken with marvellous benefit, and no 

 distress to the stomach." The valerianate proves most serviceable when there is no 

 sickness, and the pain is confined chiefly to the side of the head. 



Oxide of zinc is another remedy that often does good. Two of the pills (Pr. 66) 

 may be taken every two or three hours, or an equivalent dose five grains may be 

 taken in powder suspended in a little water or milk. 



When the headache is coming on, and the patient is irritable and can get no 

 sleep, four tablespoonfuls of the bromide of potassium mixture (Pr. 31) may be 

 given with advantage. It produces refreshing sleep, soothes the nervous system, 

 dispels the other symptoms, and at the same time lessens the frequency and severity 

 of the headaches. 



Large doses of chloride of ammonium <say thirty grains every four hours 

 sometimes give relief. It is soluble in water, but is very nasty, and should any 

 difficulty be experienced in taking it, the solution may be poured into a cupful of 

 milk, and then tossed off. Black currant lozenges, each containing five grains of 

 chloride of ammonium, are now kept by most chemists and afford an agreeable mode 

 of administering the drug. The only objection is that six would have to be taken at 

 a dose. Fortunately chloride of ammonium when it succeeds acts quickly. Should 

 relief not be obtained in six or eight hours, it would be useless to take more. Some- 

 times a dose of quinine does good (Pr. 9), and sometimes benefit is derived from 

 taking together a dose of quinine (Pr. 9) and one of bromide of potassium (Pr. 31). 

 Salicine may often be taken with advantage (Pr. 13). 



When there is great weakness ; when the pain is so great as to be aptly described 

 by the term anguish ; when there is tenderness of the scalp ; when the face is pale, 

 an.d. when there is also chilliness and coldness of the whole body, indicating marked 

 depression, arsenic should be administered. Two drops of the liquor arsenicalis may 

 be given hourly to the extent of four doses, or Pr. 40 may be employed. 



In some cases gelseminum succeeds admirably. The great thing is to give enough 

 and to give it frequently. The dose of the tincture is for an adult from five to ten 

 drops in a little water every three hours (See Pr. 41). 



The cautious inhalation of a little chloroform in acute nervous headache may 

 control the severity of the paroxysm, and induce sleep ; but when there is nausea 

 it is rarely of service, and often provokes vomiting, distressing the patient and 

 increasing the suffering. 



In many cases nothing does so much good as a hypodermic injection of morphia. 

 It is especially indicated when the face is pallid and the pulse slow and weak, and 

 the patient is beginning to feel the want of sleep. Even should it not completely 

 relieve the pain, it gives that amount of repose which renders the patient in- 

 different to all that goes on around him, and in this way the brain gets rest from those 



