Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-05-13
Health Talks by DR.. Brady
Inrinient NITrnInc.

y young correspondent gives this very good
descriptions OF the beginning OF migranc--
periodic sick headaches:
- a boy uf Is. and attending high school
Not until the last term has my physical con-
diton been affected III any way. one day
several months ago while in class saw "a
strange dazzling over my eyes. II stayed
about twenty minutes and then left, and | de-
vclupcd a splitting headache. i allowed to
20 hom". | went to bed, slept several hours,
and when awokc felt fine again, my eyes
az good ever. This strange dazzling visits
me now about every two three weeks. y
physician who examined my eyes said they
We're all right. sun these spells keep occur
ring
The peculiar aura this boy describes is
characteristic Of migrainc. AS rule the VIC
tim sees n bright spot at side. which
cnlarges, perhaps. becoming darker at the
center and changing from round TO angular
or showing zigaag nashcs called fertilization
spcctra. This lasts long hal! hour
sometimes. and then the headache begins this.
too usually being one-sided. The headache is
often associated With nausea or vomiting
But it is common mistake TO assume that
stomach trouble is the cause OF the head
ache. Any severe pain may Caasc nausea and
vomiting. II Is another common mistake to
assume that because some bile appears after
tho victim has cm9tled IN" stomach. that bill
BUSINESS" is responsible for the attack. and n
great deal OF ill-adviscd self-treatment is re-
sorted to by victims with this obsession.
Misrainc mcgrim usually begins in youth
and lasts in some cases lifetime Tho pre-
disposition is inherited. but not the disease:
defective material In the family munifests
itself miEraiuc in one Individual. as epilepsy
or hystcria or some other neurOsis In other
!idiy iduals OF the family. Ncurosis means 4
disease ahuormality Of the nervous system
without Il tangible lesion, that is no dis
oovcrabc morbid change which would eX-
plain the condition.
As in epilepsy the victim may have incom-
pIctc seizures. say momentary loss OF CON
sciousncss without commissions. 80 In mi
e.aine the sufferer may have periodic attacks
dazzling scotOmata flashing spcctra be-
:ore tho eyes with dizziness. but no head
ache. periodic attacks of half blindness or
total blindness ('blind staEGcrs'), or tenn
porary aphasia uoss OF power OF spcech). or
onc-sidcd deafness. or ringing in the ears fol-
lowed by the typca! sick headache. In some
Instances the aura takes the form oC a hallu-
cination in which figures of men or animals
seen. Temporary losS OF memory Gam
y.sia) Is occasiona! aura
MiEraine seizures occur as often every
days two weeks In eases, but
usually there are Intervals of three To cigh,
weeks. The seizures last from an hour or
two TO several days. during which time the
sufferer desires no food and Graves darkness
and quiet.
The direct cause OF these attacks is as
much "a mystery is the Of epilcptic
seizures. Therefore, all treatment is tcnta-
tive. Treatment is usually based on the theory
that the seizures are prcCipitatrd by r"cur-
ring intoNicaton or autointoxicatior. Some
physicians assert that small doses OF castor
oil (ten to twenty drops) tire" times Il day
for months end seem TO prevent seizures.
some victims have assured that they have
found remarkable relief by rolling a dozen
somcrsaults every day. Both treatments seem
foolish IiclD Yourself.