[Nervous system 269]

Catarrhal headache and rheumatic headache may be treated together.  This is due to exposure to a draught of air, walking against the sharp and keen wind, by getting the feet or other parts of the body wet, sudden suppression of perspiration about the head, or by some other exposure such as might result from cold, influenza or attack of rheumatism.  There may be aching pains and a feeling of heavy weight in the forehead; tearing, stitching pains above the eyes, in the cheek bones; sometimes the skull feels as if it would fall to pieces.  In the rheumatic variety the scalp is sore and tender, tearing throbbing pains or hard aching pains.  There is some fever, dry skin, the pulse is faster.

Treatment.—­Get into a sweat by hot drinks of lemonade and hot foot baths.  Apply cold or warmth to the head, lie down and keep quiet.

Medicine.—­Aconite in doses of one-tenth of a drop to an adult every hour will frequently abort it:  open the bowels with salts.  Remain in bed.

Nervous headache.—­This may occur as a sick headache or be simply a nervous headache:  This occurs oftenest in a nervous person, or in persons who are run down by different causes, such as diseases, overwork, worry, trouble, etc.  It is not periodic, and has no fixed type, but breaks out at indefinite intervals, and is excited by almost any special cause such as motions, mental exertions, menses, excitement, overdoing, over-visiting, want of sleep.  It is often due to eye strain in persons who have poorly fitted, or who do not wear glasses.  It appears in any part of the head, usually one-sided, or it may be all over the head, which feels enlarged and sometimes as if a band was around it.  The least mental effort makes it worse.  Sometimes there is a feeling as if a nail was being driven into the head; head is too big; eyes feel heavy and the lids droop; sees double; hard to keep eyes open.  This kind of headache, or sick-headache, can be brought on suddenly by womb trouble, especially if the womb has fallen from a jar, fall, etc.  The patient often moans and cries, laments and simply cannot stand thc pain.  In some cases the menses cause it, and it appears at every menstrual period.

Treatment.—­The patient should be quiet and remain in bed in a darkish room.  Womb troubles and other diseases that cause it such as protruding piles, etc., should be attended to.  Tincture gelsemium is a good remedy.  Put ten drops in a glass half full of water, and take two teaspoonfuls every half hour until better.  A tea made from lady’s slipper is also effective in some cases, used freely.  Bromide of potash in ten-grain doses one-half hour apart, for three doses, if necessary, is quieting in many attacks.  Mustard plaster to back of the neck.