SECT. IV.—ON HEADACH.
Headach, which is one of the most serious complaints, is sometimes occasioned by an intemperament solely; sometimes by a redundance of humours, and sometimes by both; and sometimes it is occasioned by a procatarctic cause, such as external heat, or cold, or drunkenness, or a blow. The most vehement pains of the head are excited by the active qualities, particularly heat. Those occasioned by dryness are not equally vehement; but a humid quality excites no pain of itself, unless it happens to be joined to heat, cold, or a fulness of humours. Headachs occurring in a fever having been treated of in the preceding Book on Fevers, we will now treat of the others.
On headach from heat. When headach proceeds from exposure to heat, the skin feels hotter and drier than natural at the first application of the hand, and the eyes of such persons are red. They delight in cold affusions and ointments, and are benefited by them. The method of cure will correspond with that described as applicable for cases of headach in fevers. When the pain becomes chronic, we must have recourse to some of the under-mentioned applications. The following applications to the forehead and temples will also be proper, namely, bread soaked in oxycrate and rose-oil, to which may sometimes be joined almonds; or roses either dried or fresh, or mixed with mint and pennyroyal; or bread with the leaves of the peach tree. Benefit may also be derived from basil, pounded with vinegar and rose-oil; or from ivy berries boiled in vinegar, and pounded with rose-oil; or from wheaten flour mixed with the watery decoction of wild thyme; or from cardamom toasted and triturated in vinegar and rose-oil; or from leaven with rose-oil; or from dried iris with vinegar. These applications must be changed frequently; for if allowed to remain long, they have no effect.
Trochisks for headach connected with a warm intemperament. Of saffron, dr. v; of copperas, dr. x; of alum, dr. xvj; of myrrh, dr. vij; of the oil of unripe olives, dr. iij; of chalcitis, dr. iij; of gum, dr. iij; of austere wine, q. s. Use with oxycrate, and, if watchfulness accompany it, add some of the soporifics.
On headachs from a cold intemperament. In cases of headachs from coldness, the symptoms are just the reverse of those proceeding from heat; for the face is pale and not contracted, and the patients do not delight in cold things, nor are benefited by them. The diagnosis will also be confirmed by adverting to their diet, and the like. The ointments applied should contain rue, or the oil of bay, or of iris, or of nard, or the juice of balsam, more particularly if the excrementitious humours be thick and viscid. This must be rubbed into the forehead, and likewise preparations containing pepper and euphorbium. Also give thin wines and recommend exercise, hot baths, and occasionally an emetic from radishes. When the exciting cause is a chronic quality without plethora, use the following application: Of white pepper, dr. ij; of crocomagma, dr. ij; of fresh euphorbium, dr. viiiss; of pigeon’s dung, dr. iss; of the strongest vinegar, q. s. Having first rubbed the affected part, anoint with this.
On headachs from a bilious humour. The symptoms resemble those occasioned by heat, only there are more gnawing pains at the stomach, paleness of the countenance, and sometimes a bitter taste in the mouth. This affection occurs most frequently in adults who are of a hot temperament, lead an anxious life, and are subject to collections of yellow bile. They must use tepid baths, and mild ointments, with a watery drink; and their whole diet should be moistening, and consist of good juices. The bilious humours must be evacuated with the decoction of wormwood, or with aloes, or the antidote called hiera picra, either alone, or in combination with a little scammony, or the aloetic pills. The forehead is to be rubbed with the saffron trochisk, or with that called trigonos, or the like.
On headach from sympathy. If the head be affected sympathetically with the general system, this must be our first care, by attending to the intemperament and the prevailing matter. If it proceed from plethora, more especially a venous one, we will bleed; but, if it be only an offending quality, we will use a purgative medicine. If the head sympathise with some particular part, such as the liver, belly, or stomach, we must apply remedies to these organs. If a hot intemperament accompany, we give bread which has been steeped in a watery wine, or spoon-meats from chondrus. Moderately cooling and tonic applications are likewise to be used externally, as formerly described. But if the headach be occasioned by viscid and thick humours contained in the stomach, these must be dislodged by drinking oxymel, either alone or that preparation called the Julian. We must also use decoctions of hyssop and marjoram, and other things still hotter and more incisive, and likewise the emetic from radishes, hot embrocations, and cataplasms.
On headach from wine. If the wine remain undigested, we must procure vomiting, by drinking tepid water; but if the headach remain after digestion, we must use cooling and repellent applications, such as rose-oil alone and with vinegar, or the juice of ivy, or of cabbage. And the leaves of cabbage infused in warm water, and applied to and bound to the head, naturally counteract intoxication. They must also eat boiled cabbage. Dried lentil is also beneficial, particularly to those who have a loose belly. They ought likewise to eat alica, pomegranates, apples and pears, and drink water.