St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-06-16
MEGR!M.
A Form of Sick Headache Caused
by IIye Strain.

ny rye
Philadelphia Record
This distressing condition of pain in
the head. 1t is most invariably confined
to one side Of the head and is distinctly
localizedSin the frontal above the eyes,
temporal or occipital above the nape Of
form of pain more frequently encount-
cred by the physician in his round of
labor. 1t is an affection common in all
climes, and neither height, depth nor
atmospheric conditions confer immunity
from the attack TO those who are predis-
posed to it. The fresh, cool fragrance
upon the mountain top, the peaceful
hush in the valley and the foam of the
mad sea offer lifegiving and renewing
properties sufficient to calm the most
painful throeS, but megrm never yields
nor is held back by such as these.
1t is hereditary. 1t commonly shows
itself before the thirtieth year of aye
and subsidies in later life. Digestive
disturbances were commonly supposed
to be the causes which excited the at
tack. SO, too, nervous exhaustion and
nervous irritation were believed to be
active factors in precipitating an at
tack. The best medical authorities now
say that the chiefest and most frequent
cause of megrim is an abnormal copdi-
ton of the eye or its appendageS. There
is no reason why muscle or muscles Of
they eye should not become tagged out
just as the muscles elsewhere do. Let
one bear a weight all day long. does he
not attribute his consequent backache
to the heavy burden he has borne? 1t
seems without elaborate thinking we
could conceive of the results following
upon prolonged use of the eye. No
earthly architect ever yet planned
structure that would not yield. crumble
and fall, and the house human so ex-
quiSitely uplifted in curious and mys-
ferrous ways falls and returns to dust
more rapidly and surely than need
be, for the reason that we do
not realize how much one part
is sustained or overthrown by au-
other. One tiny muscle is potent
enough to disturb the whole economy,
especially if intercurrent diseases exist
in addition to ''eye strain" The
symptoms of attacks of sick headache
are always paroXysmal and peculiarly
explosive In character, indicating the
approach Of trouble. Upon awakening
in the morning ones head feels heavy
and sense of extreme languor is pres
ent. with decided aversion to effort
even to eat. Sudden movements OF the
head Or body are followed by pains in
the head. STOPPING causes very I'M
pleasant ensations-''makes the head
SWIM" as poor sufferer describes it.
As the day advances a PAIN of very de-
cided character is felt i'll the head, and
as the day wears on absolute rest, quiet
and darkness become imperative. The
pain becomes more and more intense
until the patient begins to vomit. This
often closes the attack and heavy
sleep follows; generally several fits of
vomiting are experienced, accompanied
by retching, sweating, pallor and great
physical exhaustion. Megrim is usually
relieved in twenty-four hours, although
it may last for two or three days.
For treatment during the premonitory
stage it is best to take an emetic or
good purge. Warm water with little
mustard added (half teaspoonful to glass
lukewarm water makes an excellent
emetic, auu tablespoonful castor oil
an admirable purge. Often copious
draughts of very hot water will cut
short an attack. If the pain becomes