For passive congestion.—Local obstruction to the return of blood from the brain. Prolonged mental and physical exertion with excesses and irregular living may cause it.
Symptoms of active kind.—Head feels warm, face is red, the arteries in the neck beat hard, violent headache, ears ringing, very restless and does not sleep well.
Symptoms of the passive form.—The headache is not so great; there may be stupor, drowsiness and dull intellect and very sleepy.
Recovery.—Favorable if the cause is removed.
Treatment for active congestion.—Keep the patient absolutely quiet in a dark, well aired room, with the head and shoulders raised, an ice bag or cold cloths to the head and warm applications to the hands and feet. A warm foot bath will aid in drawing the blood away from the head. Give salts (salines) to move the bowels. These take away a great deal of water from the blood and aid in relieving the congestion of the head.
[296 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]
Treatment for passive congestion.—Remove the cause if possible. Give a light nutritious diet; prohibit alcohol in any form; keep the bowels regular.
CEREBRAL ANEMIA. (Too little blood in the brain). Causes.—Heart disease, general anemia, and mental excitement.
Symptoms.—"Fainting spells," dizziness, the ears ring and there are spots before the eyes; nausea and vomiting may go ahead of the fainting spells. The face is pale, the pupils are dilated, the pulse is small and feeble, and there may be cold sweating on the body. If you can remove the cause the result is favorable.
Treatment.—For the fainting fits:—Place the patient in the "lying down" position and this frequently restores consciousness; loosen any tight clothes, corset, waist, collar, etc. Give plenty of fresh air and do not crowd. Keep quiet yourself; do not get excited. In mild cases, mild stimulants may be necessary. Let the patient smell of camphor, put a cloth with camphor or ammonia near the nose. In other cases amylnitrite and strychnine may be necessary. Small doses of whisky or brandy frequently help. Remove the cause. Give tonics for general anemia.