Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-11-10
TOXEMIA HEADACHES
BY H. Addington Bruce

u F special interest to an unfortunately
I large number of people is an obserya-
ton made by California medical man,
DR.. E. c. Fishbaugh, of Los Angeles. The
people in aIlusion are those who suffer from
severe and recurring attacks of headache due
to intestinal toxemia~
In many cases they intuitively appreciate
the cause of their headaches, and at once
resort to dieting and purging as means of
relief Until relief is obtained they are in
deed afflicted the headaches often being al
most unbearable and sometimes accompanied
by nausea and distressing gastric symptoms.
Commonly it is supposed that in all such
cases there is an inherited or acquired pre-
disposition to ''sick headache,' a predisposi-
ton of such a character that nothing can be
done to avert occurrences. DR.. Fishbaugh S
observation does not bear out this belier, but
on the contrary indicates that their proven
ton is possible.
In the case of persons coming to him for
treatment, he was impressed by the frequen-
cy with which they reported that their head
aches were invariably preceded by feelings
Of uncommon health and vigor. For day
or two before the headaches appeared it
seemed to them that they never felt better
in their lives" Their physical powers
seemed increased, they were mentally more
alert than usual they had positive craving
for food.
Not unnaturally they reacted to their feel
ings by overexertion and overeating. Then
came the headaches, bringing with them the
remorseful thought that they were the d.
rect result of the Overexertion and over
eating. DR.. Fishbaugh, after experiences
with many cases of this sort, reached a very
different conclusion.
AS he saw it, the recurring inclination to
overexert and to overeat required explana-
ton itself. Here is the explanation that
seemed to him the only adequate one, as
stated in a paper read by him at the annual
meeting of the oregon State Medical asso-
ciation
The overeating, the overexertion the
sense of well-being did not produce the head
ache, but the increasing toxemia at first
stimulated and later intoxicated. AS the
drinking man is able to do unusual feats
during the period of stimulation, so is the
patient with intestinal toxemia during the
stimulatory stage"
On this view the uncommon sense Of we'll
being the exceptional craving for food, and
so forth, would constitute warning signs OF
an impending toxemia headache. If purging
were Immediately begun it would theoret-
icalIy be possible to avert the developing
attack.
| That immediate purging does actually
avert it, is DR.. Fishbaugh's finding. Also, be
! it added, he prescribes immediate cleaning
out of the lower intestinal tract-by enemas
or purgng-in the case of toxema headache
! victims who have as a warning sign not un-
common exhilaration but uncommon lowness
| of spirits.
GA few patients" lie informed his Oregon
medical audience. "have depression as their
| premOnitory symptom They become list
| less, dopy, have coated tongue, bad breath
and some indigestion several hours before
| the onset of the headache. This group oil
cases is quite small, but should be recog
nized just as readily as those who are slim
| ulated.
/ The practical value of these findings re-
| quires no comment. If applied generally II
! the interest of sufferers from toxemia head
| aches they should mean much toward the
gaining OF freedom from discomfort and pain