Congestive headache.—­In this kind there is or seems to be too much blood in the head.  The patient may be stupid, with a flushed face.  If conscious, the brain feels as if it was rising or falling, especially upon the motion of the head.  The top of the head sometimes feels as if it would fly off.  The head throbs and beats violently.  The hands and feet may be cold, the face flushed or pale, the eyes bright, the pulse is generally heavy, full and fast, or it may be feeble, slow and intermittent.

[270 Mothers’ remedies]

Treatment.—­1.  The patient should remain in bed in a dark room, with the head usually high.  Cold should be applied to the head and heat to the hands and feet.  Move the bowels with salts and, if necessary, give an enema also.  It is well to give the foot-bath before going to bed.  If these things do not relieve the headache a doctor should be called, for it may mean something serious.  A hot mustard foot-bath and a mustard plaster applied to the nape of the neck are of great value.  In severe cases an ice bag or very cold water, applied to the forehead and temples will very often give great relief.

2.  Spirits of Camphor 1 ounce
    Spirits of Lavender 2 ounces
    Alcohol 2 ounces

Wet the top of the head with it.

3.  Camphor 1 dram
    Oil of Peppermint 1 dram
    Chloroform 1-1/2 ounces
    Alcohol enough for 3 ounces

Shake the bottle and apply a little of the liquid to the place.  Horseback riding and walking are good for nervous girls and women.

Neuralgic headache.—­This commonly comes periodically, usually, one-sided.  It may occur at the same hour for several days in succession.  The pains are of all kinds.  It may start in the morning or at any time.  It involves more especially the eyes, side of the head, face, and goes into the teeth and neck.  It comes in persons subject to neuritis in other parts or neuralgia.

Treatment.—­Build up the system with tonics in the interval.  Lead a quiet restful life.  Acetanilid in five-grain doses frequently relieves it.  This is a dangerous medicine to use, except under a doctor’s supervision.  Spigelia in doses of one-twelfth of a drop of the tincture is good for left-sided attacks; two doses are enough, one-half hour apart.

Stomach or gastric headache.—­This, as the name indicates, is due to some acute or chronic trouble with the stomach.  It is caused by over-loading the stomach, or eating food that does not agree, such as fat meat, gravies, starchy food, warm bread, pastry, etc., or it may be due to dyspepsia.  The tongue is generally coated, the mouth tastes bitter.  If it is acute and the stomach is full, take a common emetic like warm water, salt water or mustard water.  If it is due to decomposed food, drink lots of warm water and take an enema and also a dose of salts.  If there is much gas in the stomach, take some baking soda in a glass of warm water; one drop doses of tincture of nux vomica every half hour for three hours often relieves.