The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-07-22

sive about their headaches: they
can tell the Inigraine attacks from
other ordinary headaches that
may be due TO bad air, overwork,
eyestrain, etc. at about the age
Of Is to 30 and has them at re-
current periods, not necessarily
regular periods for many years
until change of life or old age
stops them. (2) Aura, or Fremont
tion of the coming headache
light flashes, ringing in the ears,
etc. go There is usually nausea
and vomiting, which is why 10 is
called sick headache, (4) A family
history of migraine or allergy.
Innumerable remedies have been
suggested for relief. Not one
known 10 me works in every case.
Most of the sufferers have their
own personal way Of avoiding or
mitigating the attack and these
run the gamut Of the drugs from
aspirin and salts on up or down.
Then there are water cures, cleo
trio cures, diet cures, and little
tricks like taking q walk, or q
cold shower, or going to a movie,
all OF which work for some one
individual.
Best Remedies
Probably the best of the drugs
is ergotamine tartrate. Best be-
cause it works on q larger proper
ton Of people, than any other single
remedy ever suggested. 1t is esti-
mated that it gives relief to 800
of migraine headaches. Its specifi-
city is shown in the fact that it
often induces a headache in those
not subject to migraine.
It's action is generally ascribed
to its ability to construct the blood
vessels inside the Uranium. And
theoretically this should work in
migrsine because the ache is pref
ty we'll proved to be due to dilata-
ton of the blood vessels on one
side Of the head. This is shown by
the flushing of one side Of the face
during an attack. And several
examinations Of the back of the
eyes with an ophthalmoscope have
shown the retinal vessels dilated
in one eye.
Goltman reported unique case
in q person whose headaches were
supposed to be due 20 a brain
ltumour and a surgeon cut flap out
of the skull. No tumour was found
and the patient continued to have
her migraine headaches. When she
had one there was a marked bulg-
ing Of the soft spot in her skull.
When she was free of attack the
soft spot was depressed.
Another remedy which has been
suggested for migraine in the last
two years is benzedrine sulphate.
1t has the same action as ergota-
mine in the construction of blood
vessels. The sufferer from chronic
nose trouble often finds his best
temporary relief in the inhalation
of benzedrine put up in small
metal tubes so the fumes can be
shifted. 1t shrinks the vessels and
mucosa of his nose so that he can
breathe freely.
Benzedrine Taken Orally
1t is absorbed when taken by
mouth and has a general construct
ing effect on blood vessels particu-
larly those of the head. 1t has a
peculiar action on the brain cells,
accelerating mental processes so
that it is popular with those in the
know who are going to take final
examination in something or other.
In a small group (1S) of mi
graine patients Gottleib, of the
University of Iowa, found it gave
relief in 679o. Thirty-three per
cent of patients had the attacks
aborted II they took the benDedrine
early enough before the attack
started.
A favorite theory about mi
graine is that it is a manifestation
of allergy. The hereditary nature
of both complaints is suggestive.
Undoubtedly many with mi
graine background have their at
tacks precipitated by some food
to which they are allergic. Many
Of these patients can be desensi-
tized by the use Of histamine, as
described in the June issue of the
Annals of Internal Medicine. His
famine desensitization has been
used in other forms Of allergy.
These remedies should be given
under medical direction and have
putposely refrained from giving
dosage or methods of admin;stra-
tion.