Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-12-05
THOSE HEADACHES
BY H. Addington Bruce
CHRONlC or frequently occurring headaches
\ may be the result of any one of numer-

4 NHKONlC or frequently occurring headache
I 4 may be the result of any one of numer-
Gus causes. But the likelihood is that they
are due to one of three things.
In the first place, II is possible that they
are mere habit aches, Symptomatic of gen
eral tendency to oyerattention to bodily sem
SationS that are at all unpleasant
Some authorities incline to the belief that
the majority of headaches are thus caused. To
quote specifically, DR.. James J. Walsh at
firms:
Gin most cases of headache what is most
nee ded is distraction of the attention from
the aiment. Over and over again have
found that when all remedies failed the DELHI
| crate search for an occupation of mind that
would interest the patient during many hours
OF the day was the only thing that promised
relief. In many cases the relief afforde was
so complete the patients were effuSive in their
gratitude"
Still, even habit headaches may have phys
ical basis to some extent. When this is the
case they usually found associated either
with diSordered stomach or bowel conditions
or with eyeStrain.
In the former case need for dieting, per-
hapS for drastic medical treatment, is indicated
When eyeStrain is involved the obvious remedy
over and above treatment by diStration of the
| mind is correction of whatever eye defect ex-
lists.
So often. as matter of fact, is eyestrain
found to be directly or indirectly responsible
for headaches that the claim has been made
| by Sir Lauder BruntOn, for example-that 90
per cent Of headaches originate from the eye
However extreme this statement may be, GER
tain 1t is that eye-Strain, stomach trouble and
neurOtic OveratentOn constitute the chief
causes OF headaches.
A fourth cause, though far less frequent
III operation, is irritation and poisoning from
diseased conditions in the nose teeth tonsilS
and cavities of the face. Kenneth Clarke notes.
Nasal headaches are usually over the eye or
at the root OF the nose, and if located in the
anrum or SinuSeS are usually one-Sided The
teeth produce one-Sded neuralgia headache
If from the tonSilS or from adenoidS. the head
ache is usually diffuSe"
Of more obscure cauSation is the variety of
headache known as migraine, or nervous sick
! headache. In fact, that eminent medical au-
thOrity, Dr. Richard Cabot describes it as "a
disease OF the nervous system without known
pathological basis"
In some quarters, however there is a
growing suspicion that in certain cases. at any
rate, migraine may be an equivalent of epilepsy.
among otherS-have put migraine patients on
anti-epileptic treatment and report good re-
suits.
Finally, not few serious systemic and or
game diseases are uShered in by headache or
have headaches among their conspicuous Symp-
toms. AS instances may be mentioned menin-
gifts, diabetes, lead and other mineral poison
lngS syphilis and acute feverS.
And at the opposite extreme, headaches of
no small severity have been traced to such
simple lndiScretOnS as tight lacing. the wearing
OF tight collars and the pressure of tight hats
Copyright 1919, by the Associated Newspapers