HEADACHE POWDERS 259 



its body is left weak and non-resistant to diseases of infancy 

 and childhood. 



Many of our soft drinks contain narcotics. The use of the 

 coca leaf and the kola nut for such preparations has increased 

 very greatly within the last few years, and doubtless legisla- 

 tion will soon be instituted against the indiscriminate sale of 

 soft drinks. 



242. Headache Powders. The stress and strain of modern 

 life has opened wide the door to a multitude of bodily ills, 

 among which may be mentioned headache. Work must be 

 done and business attended to, and the average sufferer does 

 not take time from his vocation to investigate the cause of 

 the headache, but unthinkingly grasps at any remedy which 

 will remove the immediate pain, and utterly disregards later 

 injury. The relief afforded by most headache mixtures is 

 due to the presence of antipyrin or acetanilid, and it has 

 been shown conclusively that these drugs weaken heart 

 action, diminish circulation, reduce the number of red cor- 

 puscles in the blood, and bring on a condition of chronic 

 anemia. Pallid cheeks and blue lips are visible evidence of 

 the too frequent use of headache powders. 



The labels required by 'law are often deceptive and convey 

 no adequate idea of the amount of drug consumed ; for ex- 

 ample, 240 grains of acetanilid to an ounce seems a small 

 quantity of drug for a powder, but when one considers that 

 there are only 480 grains in an ounce, it will be seen that 

 each powder is one half acetanilid. 



Powders taken in small quantities and at rare intervals 

 are apparently harmless ; but they never remove the cause 

 of the trouble, and hence the discomfort soon returns with re- 

 newed force. Ordinarily, hygienic living will eliminate the 

 source of the trouble, but if it does not, a physician should 

 be consulted and medicine should be procured from him 



