DISEASES OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN.
Headache as a consequence of MenorUtero-Ovarian Irritation?
rhagia, and
One-sided Headache?Vertical Headache?Occipital Headache?Treatment. ?Dr. Day writes: "One-sided headache is a terribly painful affection and its worst form has been observed in women who have suffered from monorrhagia. Among (he causes that lower the nervous system menorrhagia is common and, like severe leucorrhcea and oversuckling, is a cause of nervestarvation, which is tlie chief cause of neuralgia in women." He then describes both vertical and occipital headaches and their causes, menorrhagia being one of the most common, especially when added to too frequent child-bearing and the struggle for existence. Two points are specially to be borne in mind in the treatment?(1) The age of the patient. (2) Tlie situation and course of the pain. If the headache occurs in consequence of the catamenia being too frequent this must receive prompt attention and careful measures be adopted in the intervals of the pain and headache. When this is observed, we may often succeed in controlling the headache, but sometimes no headache is complained of till after the menopause and then, in consequence of the drain during earlier years, or the sufferer having had many children, the attack becomes frequent and severe and Should the patient is an invalid. the seizures happen after the middle period of life, when the bodily powers are declining, they will prove all the more intractable. One-sided headache is more amenable to remedies than frontal headache. A severe paroxysm may sometimes be prevented by taking at the commencement a pill containing three grains of hydrate of butylchloral and ^J-jj-th of a grain of hydrochlorate of gelsemia every six hours. In other cases five grains of quinine and one or two tablespoonfuls of brandy every two or three hours or croton chloral in ten-grain doses with a little glycerine and cinnamon water will bring effectual relief. Frontal headache is sometimes relieved by nitro-hydrochloric acid with tincture of calumba and liquor strychnia}f especially when the digestion is weak and the Chloride of ammonium combined tongue clean. witli apt. of chloroform is valuable in these cases, and if the circulation be good" chloral hydrate Indian hemp is sometimes very may be tried. useful in the headache of uterine and ovarian irritation if taken at the onset and continued for some time, but it must be given with caution, commencing with a quarter of a grain at night, and if the symptoms do not yield, in the morning also. Aloes or rhubarb should be combined with it if the bowels be sluggish. Guarana Caffeine, Antipyrine and Phenacetin may all be tried in turn. Vertical headache will be much relieved by small doses of iron and arsenic after the r>
O
April
DISEASES OP WOMEN AND CHIDREN.
1894.]
occipital
For catamenia has entirely ceased. headache, a liniment of aconite or hot salt bag or a stimulating liniment of acetic acid or turpentine applied to the nape of the neck will give ease. If digestion be weak nitro-hvdrochloric acid is useful, and above all rest of mind and a complete change of air and scene. As a last resource the hypodermic injection of morphia must be considered; one-sixth of a grain is sufficient to start with. A useful formula is: Morph.
Acet.
Atropine Sulph. Acid Carbolic
...
..?
...
...
...
...
???
...
...
gr. xx gr. ? gr. iss 3ss add 5ss
Glycerini Aquoe 6 drops contain half a grain of morphine and one hundred and twentieth of a grain of atropine.? The Provincial Medical Journal. ...
...
...
...
...
...
153
Headache as a consequence of MenorUtero-Ovarian Irritation?
rhagia, and
One-sided Headache?Vertical Headache?Occipital Headache?Treatment. ?Dr. Day writes: "One-sided headache is a terribly painful affection and its worst form has been observed in women who have suffered from monorrhagia. Among (he causes that lower the nervous system menorrhagia is common and, like severe leucorrhcea and oversuckling, is a cause of nervestarvation, which is tlie chief cause of neuralgia in women." He then describes both vertical and occipital headaches and their causes, menorrhagia being one of the most common, especially when added to too frequent child-bearing and the struggle for existence. Two points are specially to be borne in mind in the treatment?(1) The age of the patient. (2) Tlie situation and course of the pain. If the headache occurs in consequence of the catamenia being too frequent this must receive prompt attention and careful measures be adopted in the intervals of the pain and headache. When this is observed, we may often succeed in controlling the headache, but sometimes no headache is complained of till after the menopause and then, in consequence of the drain during earlier years, or the sufferer having had many children, the attack becomes frequent and severe and Should the patient is an invalid. the seizures happen after the middle period of life, when the bodily powers are declining, they will prove all the more intractable. One-sided headache is more amenable to remedies than frontal headache. A severe paroxysm may sometimes be prevented by taking at the commencement a pill containing three grains of hydrate of butylchloral and ^J-jj-th of a grain of hydrochlorate of gelsemia every six hours. In other cases five grains of quinine and one or two tablespoonfuls of brandy every two or three hours or croton chloral in ten-grain doses with a little glycerine and cinnamon water will bring effectual relief. Frontal headache is sometimes relieved by nitro-hydrochloric acid with tincture of calumba and liquor strychnia}f especially when the digestion is weak and the Chloride of ammonium combined tongue clean. witli apt. of chloroform is valuable in these cases, and if the circulation be good" chloral hydrate Indian hemp is sometimes very may be tried. useful in the headache of uterine and ovarian irritation if taken at the onset and continued for some time, but it must be given with caution, commencing with a quarter of a grain at night, and if the symptoms do not yield, in the morning also. Aloes or rhubarb should be combined with it if the bowels be sluggish. Guarana Caffeine, Antipyrine and Phenacetin may all be tried in turn. Vertical headache will be much relieved by small doses of iron and arsenic after the r>
O
April
DISEASES OP WOMEN AND CHIDREN.
1894.]
occipital
For catamenia has entirely ceased. headache, a liniment of aconite or hot salt bag or a stimulating liniment of acetic acid or turpentine applied to the nape of the neck will give ease. If digestion be weak nitro-hvdrochloric acid is useful, and above all rest of mind and a complete change of air and scene. As a last resource the hypodermic injection of morphia must be considered; one-sixth of a grain is sufficient to start with. A useful formula is: Morph.
Acet.
Atropine Sulph. Acid Carbolic
...
..?
...
...
...
...
???
...
...
gr. xx gr. ? gr. iss 3ss add 5ss
Glycerini Aquoe 6 drops contain half a grain of morphine and one hundred and twentieth of a grain of atropine.? The Provincial Medical Journal. ...
...
...
...
...
...
153
