Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-11-27
THAT HEADACHE.

September has this article ON headache,
which it recommends TO the consideration
of physicians:
The following recipes and suggestions for
the treatment of different forms of head
ache are collected from variety of trust
worthy sources:
Two grains citrate of caffeine, in capsule,
taking every half hour, is very etfectual
remedy in nervous and sick headache.
One or two doses are often sufficient to
giSe complete relief. The only objection
to its use is sleeplessness, which sometimes
results if it is taken in the evening. 1t is
preferable to guarana as being hardly ever
rejected by the stomach.
The following, according to DR.. w. W.
Carpenter, is very effectual In most forms
of headache
Muriat, of ammonia, 3 drachms; acetate
of morphia, grain; citrate of caffeine, 30
grains aromatic spirits of ammonia, |
drachm; elixir of guarana, ounces rose
water, ounces. Mix. Dessertspoonful
every ten or twelve minutes.
In nervous headache, DR.. W. A. Ham
mond states the value of various drugs as
follows:
Oxide of zinc is of great value. Ordin-
airy dose grains, three times day, after
meals maximum dose, 5 grains. 1t is
best given in form of pills.
Nux vomica is preferable to strychnia
The dose is grain, after meals. If the
patient be chlorotic, it is well to combine
grain of reduced iron and half a grain
sulphate of quinine.
Bismuth, in the form of subcarbonate,
! al ,,la Of oNviJa r
Dose, 2 grains. after each meal Bismuth
probably aids digestion more than any
mineral tonic, and is of use when there is
gastric disturbance.
The bromides are serviceable when the
nervous system has been irritated when
it is exhausted they do harm.
Phosphorus is very useful in most forms
of nervous headache. The best results
are obtained from dilute phosphoric acid,
IN doses of thirty drops, largely diluted,
three times a day, after eating, or phos-
phide of zinc, one tenth of grain, in pill,
three times day.
Arsenic, as nerve tonic, stands next in
value to zinc Dose, five drops of Fowler's
solution, three times day, after meals.
GaIvanism is sometimes valuable, but by
no means specific. The constant current
should always be used, being careful to
avoid too great intensity, lest amaurosis be
produced.
DIR. T. Lauder Brunton, editor of the
London Practitioner, says The admins
tration of brisk purgative, or small doses
of EPSON salts, three times day, is most
effectual remedy for frontal headache when
associated with constipation but if the
bowels be regular, the morbid processes on
which it depends seem to be checked, and
| the headache removed even more effectu-
ally, by nitro. muriatic acid, diluted 10
drops in a wineglass of water, or bicarb.
soda, 10 grains, IN water, before meals.
If the headache be Immediately above the
eyebrows, the acid is best but if it be
| little higher up, just where the hair begins,
the soda appears to be the most ehectual.
At the same time that the headache is re-
moved, the feeling of sleepiness and weari-
ness, which frequently leads the patients
| to complain that they rise up more tired
than they lie down, generally disappears.
A writer in the London Lancet remarks ::
At the Middlesex Hospital, female patients
who have suffered many years from sick
| headache, evidently of hereditary charac-
ter, have been greatly benefited, if not
cured. by the administration of ten minim
doses of tincture OF Indian hemp, three
times daily, between the attacks. This is
well worthy OF trial in those cases of ever
living, never.dying martyrdom-like suffer-
ing.
In headache due to determination of
blood to the head and in fever, the follow
ing simple treatment is to be commended :;
Put a handful of salt into quart of
water add an ounce Of spirits of hartshurn
and half an ounce of spirits OF camphor.
Cork the bottle tightly, to prevent the es-
cape of the spirit. Soak piece of soft
cloth with the mixture and apply it to the
head wet the rag fresh as soon as it gets
heated.
Soaking the feet in very warm water, In
which a spoonful OF mustard has been
stirred. is also beneficial in drawing the
blood from the head.
Two teaspoonfuls of powdered charcoal,
well stirred in half glass of water aud
drank at once, is valuable remedy in sick
headache from sour stomach, ha5ulence,
etc.
Tineture of nux vomica is recommended
by Ringer as possessed of real curative
powers, when given in drop doses, repeated
every Ave or ten minutes for eight or ten
| doses, and then continued at longer inter
walls. for sick headache, accompanied with
acute gastric eatarrh, whether due to error
in diet, constipation or no apparent cause.