The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-01-06
SUCH A HEADACHE!


are born with headache, some acquire
headache, and some have headache thrust
upon them Yet there are favored Few
who never have the headache, so they say
A description of every kind of headache
would confuse even the professional read
er, for there are as many causes and many
headaches therefrom. They may, however
be broadly classed as headache due TO
overfullness of blood Cplethora). due TO
deficiency of blood (anaemia). and debiiity'
due to Inflammation: due to sympathy with
some other diseased organ, and due 10
nervous causes. Some headaches are slight
and transient, and even severe headache'
in those predisposed, does not call Tor IN
reference. except to relieve the pain, yet
all headaches may be dangerous portents
of serious brain disease, due, perhaps, in
turn, to some disease of more remote
organ. especially the kidneys and liver.
The treatment, too. is not always the
same for every headache. In full-blooded
person. for example. where there Is
suddenly occurring severe headache, with
throbbing in the head, depletives or even
blood-letting may save the sufferer from
an attack of apoplexy, but in weak per-
son such treatment might cause paralysis
or epileptic commissions.
AS a general rule If the person suffering
from headache is one of full habits,
sleepy, dull and slow of movement; If the
vessels of the face are full and the ivisa3e
is flushed; If the headache is increased by
STOPPING, by a full meal, by stimulants or
by sleep overfullness is the probable cause,
and change in diet is indicated. together
with a mild cathartic, say, calomel or colo
cynth, with occasional doses of salts,
exercise. bathing the head with cold water
and perhaps the application of one or two
lecChes 10 the temples to reduce the over
plus of blood in the BRAIN Such casSs of
headache are often associated with bilious
ness, and care in avoiding the use OF
heavy food will often cause the head
ache 10 cease from troubling. Sometimes
the urine IS deficient in quantity owing TO
temporary disturbance of the kidneys, es-
pecially after drinking or after exposure TO
cold. In such cases plenty of hot, strong
lemonade will often give relief at once In
other cases there is some chronic disease
Of the heart, kidneys or liver which causes
q disturbance of circulation, and doctor
should he consulted, who by proper treat
n.ent of the disease causing the headacne
may check the headache.
On the other hand, the person suffering
from headache may be weak in body and
nerve vigor, though intellectually strong.
and any overexertion, physical or mental,
will bring on a severe attack of headache.
Such persons, when thus affected, are list
less and languid, the face is pale and the
pulse weak, showing weak action of the
heart Yet the brain itself is suffused with
blood and the head is hot to the touch.
Such a headache is often associated with
indigestion, and occurs especially in stu
dents and men of business who apply them
selves too closely to their books or work
and often neglect common hygienic pre-
cautions. In such cases the whole system
is weakened and the brain and the circula-
ton as we'll as the digestion are all affect
ed, one reacting upon the other. In such
a debilitated state depletives would mani
testify be unwise. Cold applications to the
head will temporarily relieve the pain, and
daily washing the head with cold water
may aid in preventing the suffusion of the
brain and thus relieve the headache. Exer-
else, attention TO the bowels without purg-
ing care in diet and periodical relaxation
of the mind by change of environment will
often effect permanent cure.
BY far the greater number of headaches,
however, are so-called nervous headaches,
technically called hemicrania, and also
known as migraine and sick headache.
In all these cases there is disordered
state of the nervous system. inherited or
acquired, and the slightest indiscretion in
any matter-eating, drinking, exercise,
amusement or works. sufficient to over
throw the normal, yet unstable, equilibrium
and cause headache characterized by a
severe pain on one side of the head over
and around the eye or temporal region.
With this there is usually connected dis
ordered state of the stomach and nausea;
even vomiting is almost constant char
acteristic of this form of headache Some
times a cup of strong hot tea, with slice
or two of lemon in it, but sugar milk,
will relieve this type of headache. Coffee
without milk sugar will some
times relieve it, but often ag-
gravates it by exciting the heart
Sympathetic headaches indicate a dis
ordered state of some other organ which
reacts upon the brain. Kidney disease,
for example, by causing an inability of
the kidneys to eliminate all the waste
products, leads to an actual poisoning of
the system through the blood, which often
leads to eventual death by so-called uremic
poisoning, the person sinking into deep
stupor, and unconscious. dying at the
brain, as the saying is. The presence of
bile in the intestines in more than normal
quantity also causes headache of a dull,
sickening character Indigestion too, the
presence of undigested food in the stomach
and intestines, the too alkaline or too acid
state of the gastric juice also lead to head
ache. In these cases mild aperient or
compound rhubarb pill will often bring
relief. Some persons know from experience
that vinegar and water will relieve the
headache due to an alkaline stomach, espe-
cially after oily or greasy food has been
eaten and, again, in cases of acid stomach.
soda or magnesia will often correct the
cause and remove the effect.
Among drugs the safest remedy is from
fifteen to twenty grains Of bromide of soda
in ice cold water, repeated in an hour or
two if relief does not occur before This
drug does not cause any after effects and
no drug habit is induced, as is apt to be the
case If phenacetine, morphine, and the like
are used. Rest in reclining position in a
darkened room and Quietness will aid much
in the temporary cure, but the permanent
cure, If any such is possible. depends upon
change of habits. good diet, fresh air and