256

TOOTH-AC H.

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a foulness of the stomach, for which gentle vomits must he admin-istered, as alto purges of rhubarb, After the bowels have beensufficiently cleared, chalybeate waters, and such bitters as strength-en the stomach, will be necessary. A periodical head-ach hasbeen cured by wearing a piece of flannel over the forehead duringthe night.

When tVie head-ach arises from a vitiated state of the humours,as in the scurvy and venereal disease, the patient, after properevacuations, must drink freely of the decoction of woods, or the de-coction of sarsaparilla, with raisins and liquorice. These, if dulypersisted in, will produce very happy effects. When a collection ofmatter is felt under the skin, it must be discharged by an incision,otherwise it will render the bone carious.

When the head-ach is so intolerable as to endanger the patient'slife, or is attended with continual watching and delirium, recoursemust be had to opiates. These, after proper evacuations by clys-ters, or mild purgatives, may be applied both externally and in-ternally. The affected part may be rubbed with Bate's anodynebalsam, or a cloth dipped in it may be applied to the part. Thepatient may, at the same time, take twenty drops of the tinctureof opium, in a cup of valerian or penny-royal tea, twice or thricea-day. This is only to be done in case of extreme pain. Properevacuations ought always to accompany and follow the use ofopiates.*

When the patient cannot bear the loss of blood, his feet oughtfrequently to be bathed in lukewarm water, and well rubbed with acoarse cloth. Cataplasms with mustard or horse-radish ought like-wise to be applied to them. This course is peculiarly necessarywhen the pain proceeds from a gouty humour affecting the head.

When the head-ach is occasioned by great heat, hard labour, orviolent exercise of any kind, it may be allayed by cooling medi-cines ; as the saline draughts with nitre, and the like.

A little sether, dropt into the palm of the hand, and applied tothe forehead, will sometimes remove a violent head-ach.

Of the Tooth-ach. (Odontalgia.)

This disease is so well known, that it needs no description. Ithas great affinity with the rheumatism, and often succeeds painsof the shoulders and other parts of the body.

It may proceed from obstructed perspiration, or any of the othercauses of inflammation. I have often known the tooth-ach occa-sioned by neglecting some part of the usual coverings of the head,by sitting with the head bare near an open window, or exposing itto a draught of cold air. Food or drink taken either too hot ortoo cold, is very hurtful to the teeth. Great quantities of sugar,or other sweat-meats, are likewise hurtful. Nothing is more de-structive to the teeth than cracking nuts, or chewing any kind ofhard substances. Picking the teeth with pins, needles, or any

* When the pain is very violent, and does not yield to small doses of laudanum, thequantity may be increased. I have known a patient in extreme pain take three hun-dred drops in twenty-four hours ; but such doses ought only to be administered bv aperson of skill.