When the head-ach is occasioned by the stoppage of a running at the nose, the patient should frequently smell to a bottle of volatile salts; he may likewise take snuff, or any thing that will irritate the nose, so as to promote a discharge from it; as the herb mastich, ground-ivy, &c.
A hemicrania, especially a periodical one, is generally owing to a foulness of the stomach, for which gentle vomits must be administered, as also purges of rhubarb. After the bowels have been sufficiently cleared, chalybeate waters, and such bitters as strengthen the stomach, will be necessary. A periodical head-ach has been cured by wearing a piece of flannel over the forehead during the night.
When the head-ach arises from a vitiated state of the humours, as in the scurvy and venereal disease, the patient, after proper evacuations, must drink freely of the decoction of woods, or the decoction of sarsaparilla, with raisins and liquorice[[130]]. These promote perspiration, sweeten the humours, and, if duly persisted in, will produce very happy effects. When a collection of matter is felt under the skin, it must be discharged by an incision, otherwise it will render the bone carious.
When the head-ach is so intolerable as to endanger the patient’s life, or is attended with continual watching, delirium, &c. recourse must be had to opiates. These, after proper evacuations by clysters or mild purgatives, may be applied both externally and internally. The affected part may be rubbed with Bate’s anodyne balsam, or a cloth dipped in it may be applied to the part. The patient may, at the same time, take twenty drops of laudanum, in a cup of valerian or penny-royal tea, twice or thrice a day. This is only to be done in case of extreme pain. Proper evacuations ought always to accompany and follow the use of opiates[[131]].
When the patient cannot bear the loss of blood, his feet ought frequently to be bathed in lukewarm water, and well rubbed with a coarse cloth. Cataplasms with mustard or horse-radish ought likewise to be applied to them. This course is peculiarly necessary when the pain proceeds from a gouty humour affecting the head.
When the head-ach is occasioned by great heat, hard labour, or violent exercise of any kind, it may be allayed by cooling medicines; as the saline draughts with nitre, and the like.
A little of Ward’s essence, dropt into the palm of the hand, and applied to the forehead, will sometimes remove a violent head-ach; and so will æther, when applied in the same manner.
OF THE TOOTH-ACH.
This disease is so well known, that it needs no description. It has great affinity with the rheumatism, and often succeeds pains of the shoulders and other parts of the body.
It may proceed from obstructed perspiration, or any of the other causes of inflammation. I have often known the tooth-ach occasioned by neglecting some part of the usual coverings of the head, by sitting with the head bare near an open window, or exposing it any how to a draught of cold air. Food or drink taken either too hot or too cold is very hurtful to the teeth. Great quantities of sugar, or other sweetmeats, are likewise hurtful. Nothing is more destructive to the teeth than cracking nuts, or chewing any kind of hard substances. Picking the teeth with pins, needles, or any thing that may hurt the enamel with which they are covered, does great mischief, as the tooth is sure to be spoiled whenever the air gets into it. Breeding women are very subject to the tooth-ach, especially during the first three or four months of pregnancy. The tooth-ach often proceeds from scorbutic humours affecting the gums. In this case the teeth are sometimes wasted, and fall out without any considerable degree of pain. The more immediate cause of the tooth-ach is a rotten or carious tooth.