OF THE HEAD-ACH.

321

almost intolerable head-ach, which occasions greatdebility both of body and mind, prevents sleep,destroys the appetite, causes a vertigo, dimness ofsight, a noise in the ears, convulsions, epileptic fits,and sometimes vomiting, costiveness, coldness of theextremities; &c.

The head-ach is often symptomatic in continualand intermitting fevers, especially quartans. It is like-wise a very common symptom in hysteric and hypo-chondriac complaints.

When a head-ach attends an acute fever, with paleurine, it is an unfavourable symptom. In excessivehead-achs, coldness of the extremities is a bad sign.

When the disease continues long, and is very vio-lent, it often terminates in blindness, an apoplexy,deafness, a vertigo, the palsy, or the epilepsy.

In this disease the cold regimen in general is to beobserved. The diet ought to consist of such emollientsubstances,as will correct the acrimony of the humours,and keep the body open; as apples boiled in milk,spinage, turnips, and such like. The drink ought tobe diluting: as barley-broth, infusions of mild muci-laginous vegetables, decoctions of the sudorific woods,&c. The feet and legs ought to be kept warm, andfrequently bathed in hike-warm water; the head shouldbe shaved, and bathed with water and vinegar. Thepatient ought, as much as possible, to keep in anerect posture, and not to lie with his head too low.

When the head ach is owing to excess of blood, ora hot bilious constitution, bleeding is necessary. Thepatient may be bled in the jugular vein, and the opera-tion repeated if there be occasion. Cupping, also, orthe application of leeches to the temples, and behindthe ears, or to any part of the head that is mostaffected. In some cases it will be proper to blisterthe whole head. In persons of a gross habit, issuesor perpetual blisters will be of service. The bodyought likewise to be kept open by gentle laxatives.

But when the head-ach proceeds from a copious vi-tiated serum stagnating in the membranes, either

13. 2T