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HEADACHE.

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ther yield to bleeding nor gentle laxatives, then more powerfulpurgatives are necessary, as pills made of aloes, resin of jalap,or the like. It will also be necessary in this case to blisterthe whole head, and to keep the back part of the neck openfor a considerable time by a perpetual blister.

When the headache is occasioned by a stoppage of a run-ning at the nose, the patient should frequently smell to a bot-tle of volatile salts ; he may likewise take snuff, or any thingthat will irritate the nose, so as to promote a discharge fromit, as the herb mastich, ground ivy, &c.

A kemicrania, especially a periodical one, is generally ow-ing to a foulness of the stomach, for which gentle vomits mustbe administered, as also purges of rhubarb. After the bowelshave been sufficiently cleared, chalybeate waters, and suchbitters as strengthen the stomach, will be necessary.

When the headache arises from a vitiated state of the hu-mors, as in the scurvy and venereal disease, the patient, afterproper evacuations, must drink freely of the decoction ofwoods, or the decoction of sarsaparilla with raisins and liquor-ice.* These promote perspiration, sweeten the humors, and,if duly persisted in, will produce very happy effects. Whena collection of matter is felt under the skin, it must be dis-charged by an incision, otherwise it well render the bonecarious.

When the headache is so intolerable as to endanger thepatient's life, or is attended with continual watching, delirium,&c, recourse must be had to opiates. These, after properevacuation by clysters or mild purgatives, may be appliedboth externally and internally. The affected part may berubbed with Bate's anodyne balsam, or a cloth dipped in itmay be applied to the part. The- patient may, at the sametime, take twenty drops of laudanum, in a cup of valerian orpennyroyal tea, twice or thrice a day. This is only to bedone in case of extreme pain. Proper evacuations oughtalways to accompany and follow the use of opiates.

When the patient cannot bear the loss of blood, his feetought frequently to be bathed in lukewarm water and wellrubbed with a coarse cloth. Cataplasms with mustard orhorseradish ought likewise to be applied to them. This

* This is made by boiling three ounces of fresh sarsaparilla, anounce of raisins, and half an ounce of liquorice, in three Englishquarts of water to one. The liquor must be strained, and an Englishpint of it drank daily.23

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