Part 27

“In severe cases of headache, the patient is to lie perfectly quiet, with the head moderately raised by pillows, and the room is to be darkened.

“If the feet are cold, they should be put into warm water; and if they have a disposition to become chilled again soon, they are to be kept warm by heated flannels, or bottles filled with hot water.

“During an attack of headache, arising from disordered digestive organs, it is essential that the food be very simple, and small in quantity.

“In headache, from nervous disorders, requiring stimulants, the food may be of a nutritious quality; the quantity, however, should be moderate.

“The foregoing remarks apply to sudden, or severe attacks of headache. When slighter affections of the same nature often occur, strict attention to diet, exercise, and the use of aperients, as recommended in a previous chapter, will greatly tend to mitigate the suffering, and to keep off the complaint altogether.

“Where headache comes on in consequence of fulness of the blood-vessels of the head, it will be indicated by a sense of weight within the skull, drowsiness, giddiness, particularly on stooping, sickness, ringing or other sounds in the ears, and bright flashes, or sparks in the eyes. In these cases, it will generally be necessary to bleed the temples with eight or ten leeches; and if their application to those parts is known to produce swelling of the eyes and face, the leeches may be placed behind the ears. The head is then to be kept cool by applying cold vinegar and water to it; and purgatives are to be administered.

“The diet is to be very simple, animal food is to be avoided, and no stimulants are to be taken.

“Headache may arise from whatever induces debility. It is generally experienced where great loss of blood has taken place, and it may seem singular that the symptoms and sensations of this kind of headache, appear to be the consequence of the vessels of the head having too much blood in them. For instance, there are usually noises resembling the violent beating of a hammer, the rushing of water, the blowing of wind, ringing, &c. It is therefore necessary to notice the condition of the system, to be enabled to decide whether the pain arises from a deficiency, or from an over supply of blood to the head.

“A correct decision should be formed upon this point, by ascertaining whether there is a disposition to fulness of the system, or a state of emptiness of the vessels from great loss of blood, with general debility.

“In the latter case, quietness is most essential: wine and other stimulants, will be necessary; together with a light nutritious diet.

“Opiates also will generally be found requisite, such as have been previously enumerated in this chapter.

“In all cases of headache, mental tranquillity is of much importance; and the patient should not persevere in the pursuit of any occupation which materially increases the pain.

“In this disorder, as well as in many others, accompanied by much irritability, the sleep is often seriously interrupted by slight noises; in most cases, this may be prevented by stopping the ears with small plugs, three quarters of an inch in length, and about one quarter of an inch in diameter. If the plugs be made of white wax, they will generally answer the best, as they admit of being accurately moulded to the form of the openings of the ears. Plugs made of turned wood will sometimes be sufficient.

“If such plans as the foregoing do not soon give relief, medical advice should be had, especially where it is supposed that there is too much blood in the vessels of the head.

“Tenderness and irritability of the external parts sometimes come on to an almost intolerable extent, in consequence of inflammatory action. They are most effectually relieved by bathing the parts occasionally with cold or hot water, or decoction of poppy-heads, or of laurel leaves, and by using a soothing lotion. The soothing lotion may be made of two drachms of acetate of lead, commonly called sugar of lead, and an ounce of laudanum, in seven ounces of water. It may be applied three or four times during every twenty-four hours.

“In these troublesome affections the bowels must be kept rather more active than usual by gentle aperients. The aperients to be, from two to four drachms of Epsom salts. From one to two teaspoonfuls of electuary of senna. From one to two spoonfuls of castor oil. Or from fifteen to thirty grains of magnesia. Any of which may be taken every second night, or every night, as circumstances may require. The diet should be mild, and there must be a total abstinence from spirit, wine, and malt liquor. If these means fail to give the desired relief, it will be advisable to bleed the parts occasionally with six or eight leeches, and to apply poultices of the same kind, and in the same manner, as recommended in another chapter.

“A discharge frequently appears from the passage, which is either white, or slightly tinged with green, or blood; in such cases, the parts are to be washed, or the passage injected with a syringe, twice daily, with tepid milk and water, or a weak solution of alum in water. For the wash or injection, twelve grains of alum may be dissolved in six ounces of water, and about two tablespoonfuls injected at each time.

“Means should be used to secure the regular action of the bowels, by employing mild aperients and injections, as previously recommended.

“More vigorous measures than the above might be productive of much mischief.”

Footnote 28:

One of the English kings, Edward III., in the year 1344, picked up from the floor of a ball-room, an embroidered garter, belonging to a lady of rank. In returning it to her, he checked the rising smile of his courtiers with the words, “Honi soit qui mal y pense!” or, paraphrased in English, “Shame on him who invidiously interprets it!” The sentiment was so greatly approved, that it has become the motto of the English national arms. It is one which might be not inaptly nor unfrequently applied in rebuking the mawkish, skin-deep, and intolerant morality of this hypocritical and profligate age.

Footnote 29:

It may perhaps be argued, that all married persons have this power already, seeing that they are no more obliged to become parents than the unmarried; they may live as the brethren and sisters among the Shakers do. But this Shaker remedy is, in the first place, utterly impracticable, as a general rule; and, secondly, it would chill and embitter domestic life, even if it were practicable.

Footnote 30:

Will our sensitive fine ladies blush at the plain good sense and simplicity of such an observation? Let me tell them, the indelicacy is in their own minds, not in the words of the French mother.

Footnote 31:

For a vice so unnatural as onanism there could be no possible temptation, and therefore no existence, were not men unnaturally and mischievously situated. It first appeared, probably in monasteries; and has been perpetuated by the more or less anti-social and demoralizing relation in which the sexes stand to each other, in almost all countries. In estimating the consequences of the present false situation of society, we must set down to the black account the wretched consequences (terminating not unfrequently in incurable insanity) of this vice, the preposterous offspring of modern civilization. Physicians say that onanism at present prevails, to a lamentable extent, both in this country and in England. If the recommendations contained in these pages were generally followed, it would probably totally disappear in a single generation.

Footnote 32: