These potent remedies, however, should only be administered under the supervision of a qualified medical practitioner. An esteemed
medical friend assures us he has employed the new remedy, Quinetum (the alkaloid of the East India red bark), with the happiest effects. He gives four grains of the quinetum three times a day. The use of an ori-nasal respirator of cotton wool has also been suggested. Great relief has, we know, in a great number of cases, been experienced by snuffing from a smelling bottle containing the following ingredients:— Pure crystallised carbolic acid, 1 dr.; sesquicarbonate of ammonia, 1 oz.; wood charcoal, 1 oz.; oil of lavender, 1⁄2 dr.; compound tincture of benzoin, 1⁄2 oz.; all reduced to fine powder, and thoroughly mixed.
HEAD′ACHE. Syn. Cephalalgia, L. In pathology, pain in the head. The symptoms of this very general complaint are too well known to require any description. According to pathologists, headache arises either from a sympathy with the stomach and chylopoietic (chyle-forming) viscera, or from a weakness or exhaustion of the power of the encephalon. The former may be called SYMPATHETIC HEADACHE, and the latter NERVOUS HEADACHE. When it attacks only one side of the head it is called HEMICRANIA. The treatment of the first form should consist in restoring the healthy action of the stomach, by the administration of aperients, and by the use of proper food and exercise; or when that viscus is overloaded with undigested food, by the exhibition of an emetic. For this purpose 1⁄4 to 1⁄2 an oz. of ipecacuanha wine may be taken in a cupful of warm water, which will generally relieve the stomach, especially if its action is assisted by drinking copiously of warm water. Headache is a common accompaniment of indigestion and stomach disease, and in general it will be found that whatever will remove the one will also cure the other. Nervous headaches are relieved by nervous tonics and stimulants, as bark, cascarilla, calumba, and gentian, camphor, ammonia, ether, and wine, the latter in a state of considerable dilution. A cup of strong coffee or strong green tea often acts like a charm in removing this species of headache. Small doses of tincture of henbane have also often a like effect. 20 or 30 drops of laudanum, or, preferably, half that number of liquor opii sedativus, may be taken with advantage as an anodyne, and to induce sleep. Amongst popular remedies may be mentioned ‘nasal stimulants,’ as snuff (cephalic), smelling salts, and aromatic vinegar, the use of which is familiar to every one; and local applications, as very cold water, ether, vinegar, strong spirits, Cologne water, &c., all of which are rubbed over the part of the head affected, with the fingers, or a linen rag dipped in them is laid thereon instead. Pressure on the head has also been used with advantage. Silence, darkness, and repose, are powerful remedies, alike suitable to every variety of headache; and change of air, scene, and occupation, are especially beneficial to those resulting from excessive mental anxiety or exertion. Blisters are extensively applied behind the ears in cases of violent headache.
Headache is often symptomatic of other diseases, especially those of the inflammatory and nervous kind, rheumatism, &c. In all these the primary disease should be sought out and attempted to be cured. In many cases these attacks rapidly yield to a few doses of compound decoction of sarsaparilla containing a little iodide of potassium. Headache in pregnancy may generally be removed by proper attention to the bowels; observing to assist their action, should they require it, by the use of some mild aperient, as castor oil, lenitive electuary, seidlitz powders, &c. When the constitution is very robust, blood may be taken. Headache in bed may frequently be relieved by washing the head with cold water, and discontinuing the use of a nightcap, at the same time preserving the feet warm by wearing worsted socks or stockings.
HEAD′ING. Syn. Beer heading, Cauliflower H. Prep. 1. Alum and green copperas, equal parts, in fine powder.
2. Alum, copperas, and common salt, equal parts.
Used by brewers to make their beer keep its head or froth.
HEALTH. That state of the living body in which all its functions are duly performed. See Hygiene.
HEALTH, GOOD—Gut-Heil (Aust). A liquor containing the extractive matters of calamus root, rhubarb, cinnamon, orange peel, &c., with 35 per cent. of sugar. (Hager.)
HEAR′ING. See Deafness, Ear, &c.