Concerning Headaches

Southland Times, Issue 14516, 16 December 1899, Page 1 (Supplement)

Concerning Headaches

To attempt to banish all variations of headache by a single ‘cure’ shows a childlike faith in medicine, but very little common sense. The first step towards curing a headache is to find out which kind of a one it is, and to devote one’s energies to drive it away. The headache which results from indigestion is of frequent occurrence, and it implies over-eating or unwise eating, and when a woman finds herself afflicted with such a headache she should proceed to cure it by fasting and a mild cathartic, and sitting with her feet in hot water before going to bed. ’ . . The nervous headache is the kind to which women are most subjected, as it results from the effort to make the nerves do more than they ought to do. The first step in treating this headache is to drop work and worry, if possible, and draw blood from the head by soaking the feet in hot water, and putting cold applications to the forehead and theback of the neck. A great many mysterious headaches have their origin in overstrained eyes. This kind is cured only by giving the eyes a vacation or by an oculist. Of course, care in the use of the eyes is also a help. Reading,writing, or sewing in a dim or flickering light must be given up. The common practice of trying°to readin jolting trains must also be discarded. The eyes must never be used too long at a time, and when there is much eye work to be done brief rests and bathings in hot water will ward off the dreaded headache. The headache which is the result ot exposure to colds or draughts or sudden changes is best treated by hot applications, hot water bags, and gentle friction of the place of pain. If this does not banish the headache in a day then a deeper illness is indicated. ~ The best way to treat headaches is to avoid them—to refuse to overtax the eyes, the nerves, or the stomach,and to give attention to exercise and bathing.