Sick headache is a common disease among women. It arises from
various causes, and is apt to occur at regular intervals. It is in most
cases a curable disease, but as it is caused by different circumstances no
specific treatment can be given without knowing the history of each
case/ When headache is the result of a cold or catarrh in the head, the
following remedy, used when it first makes its appearance, will generally
arrest it: Take of pure carbolic acid four scruples; ammonia water,
one and a half drachms ; water, two drachms ; alcohol, one drachm ;
mix; make a small cone of blotting paper and pour some of the mixture
upon it and inhale through the nose.
In some forms of nervous headache, massage or gentle manipulation
of the head will soothe like magic. Patients who were suffering extreme
pain have often been relieved in a few minutes, and fell asleep under the
operation. The operator should stand, the patient sitting in a chair in
front of him. The clothing should be loosened about the waist and
neck and the eyes closed. The operator dipping the hands in cool
water places them on the forehead, the fingers of one hand pointing
toward those of the other. Now separate the hands with a slow motion
and moderately firm pressure, carrying them across the forehead down
behind the ears. Repeat this motion about five times a minute for five
266 MEDICAL.
minutes, then with each hand pick up the skin of the forehead, com-
mencing over each eye, and give it a little twisting or rolling motion
between the fingers ; this motion should be repeated until the surface of
the forehead and the temples has been worked upon. In the case of
delicately wrought nervous organizations you will scarcely fail to obtain
the result.
There is another form of the disease classed as headache, which is
not really an ache, but a dizziness or giddiness. It may be only
momentary, or it may last for a long time. It generally comes on sud-
denly and without warning.
This is sometimes due to errors in diet, but oftener to more serious
trouble, and should never be neglected. The advice of a physician
should be sought in all cases.
CONGESTIVE CHILLS.
This disease is the same as intermittent fever, commonly known as
fever and ague, only in a severer form, and occurs in patients who are
already prostrated from other causes.
For a day or two previous to the accession of the disease, the patient
feels languid, restless and feeble with some oppression in breathing.
A chill more or less severe follows a headache, not sharp or acute but
dull and heavy in character. The principal danger in the disease is
congestion of the lungs or brain.
The best remedy, and one which can always be kept at hand, is
quinine ; or what answers the same purpose at a much less cost, dextro-
quinine. It can be obtained in the form of a powder or in pills ; the
latter are the more convenient to administer.
Give fifteen grains (five three-grain pills) upon the first symptoms of
the disease, and if a chill occurs give two grains every two hours.
During the cold stage use hot water bottles to the feet, plenty of blan-
kets and hot drinks.
During the hot stage which follows use cold cloths to the head wrung
out in a mixture of vinegar and water. Tonics and stimulants are
needed in most cases.
DYSPEPSIA AND ITS CURES.
Page 236
Presented as published in 1886. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
Sick headache is a common disease among women. It arises from various causes, and is apt to occur at regular intervals. It is in most cases a curable disease, but as it is caused by different circumstances no specific treatment can be given without knowing the history of each case. When headache is the result of a cold or catarrh in the head, the following remedy, used when it first makes its appearance, will generally arrest it: Take of pure carbolic acid four scruples; ammonia water, one and a half drachms ; water, two drachms ; alcohol, one drachm ; mix; make a small cone of blotting paper and pour some of the mixture upon it and inhale through the nose.
In some forms of nervous headache, massage or gentle manipulation of the head will soothe like magic. Patients who were suffering extreme pain have often been relieved in a few minutes, and fell asleep under the operation. The operator should stand, the patient sitting in a chair in front of him. The clothing should be loosened about the waist and neck and the eyes closed. The operator dipping the hands in cool water places them on the forehead, the fingers of one hand pointing toward those of the other. Now separate the hands with a slow motion and moderately firm pressure, carrying them across the forehead down behind the ears. Repeat this motion about five times a minute for five minutes, then with each hand pick up the skin of the forehead, commencing over each eye, and give it a little twisting or rolling motion between the fingers ; this motion should be repeated until the surface of the forehead and the temples has been worked upon. In the case of delicately wrought nervous organizations you will scarcely fail to obtain the result.
There is another form of the disease classed as headache, which is not really an ache, but a dizziness or giddiness. It may be only momentary, or it may last for a long time. It generally comes on suddenly and without warning.
This is sometimes due to errors in diet, but oftener to more serious trouble, and should never be neglected. The advice of a physician should be sought in all cases.
CONGESTIVE CHILLS.
This disease is the same as intermittent fever, commonly known as fever and ague, only in a severer form, and occurs in patients who are already prostrated from other causes.
For a day or two previous to the accession of the disease, the patient feels languid, restless and feeble with some oppression in breathing. A chill more or less severe follows a headache, not sharp or acute but dull and heavy in character. The principal danger in the disease is congestion of the lungs or brain.
The best remedy, and one which can always be kept at hand, is quinine ; or what answers the same purpose at a much less cost, dextroquinine. It can be obtained in the form of a powder or in pills ; the latter are the more convenient to administer.
Give fifteen grains (five three-grain pills) upon the first symptoms of the disease, and if a chill occurs give two grains every two hours. During the cold stage use hot water bottles to the feet, plenty of blankets and hot drinks.
During the hot stage which follows use cold cloths to the head wrung out in a mixture of vinegar and water. Tonics and stimulants are needed in most cases.
DYSPEPSIA AND ITS CURES.