The store-house of physical practice being a general treatise of the causes and signs of all diseases afflicting human bodies : together with the shortest, plainest and safest way of curing them, by method, medicine and diet : to which is added, for the benefit of young practicers, several choice forms of medicines used by the London physicians / by John Pechey ...

CHAP. XIII. Of the Head-ach.

HEad-ach, in Latin, Cephalalgia. This word is used for all Pains of the Head in general; but properly it only signifies a new Pain of the Head. Cephalaea is an inveterate Pain of the Head: Hemierania the Pain of one side of the Head. It is also divided into external and in∣ternal; Idiopathick and Sympathick; and of these, some are pricking, others heavy, and some beating; an inward pain of the Head is seated upon the Meninges, which lies deep, and reaches to the Roots of the Eyes; but the out∣ward pain is seated upon the Pericranium, and is exaspe∣rated when the Head is prest, or the Roots of the Hair turned back.

An Idiopathick Pain is continual. This does not proceed from the disorder of other parts: but a Sympatick Pain does. What that part is which communicates the pain to the Head may be easily known by the proper Signs of the affected part. The pain of the Head proceeds from a cold Cause, and from a hot Cause. For the Cure of the former, the Flegmatick Matter is to be evacuated by the following Pills.

Take of the Pills of Ambar one Scruple and an half, of Cochiae Minor two Scruples and an half, of Tartar vi∣triolated ten Grains, of Peruvium Balsam a sufficient quantity; mingle them, make twelve Pills, give six of them once a Week in the Morning.

The Bath is very effectual in this case, the party being bathed, and his Head washed with it. Sneezing Powder is also very proper. Sudorifick Decoctions are also very beneficial in iinveterate pains.

Take of Sarsa parilla, and Gujacum, each two Ounces, in∣fuse them twenty four hours in two Quarts of Fountain Water, upon hot Ashes, and boil them over a gentle Fire till half is consumed; add to it Coriander Seeds and Li∣quorish, or of Sugar and Cinnamon as much as is suffici∣ent to give an agreeable taste. Strain it, and keep it in a Glass; let him take half a Pint hot in a Morning,

for fifteen, twenty, or thirty days; and let him have more Cloaths on than ordinary.

But this is to be noted in the use of Sudorifick decocti∣ons, that some Purging Medicine must be given once a Week from the very beginning of the Cure: Specifick Re∣medies should be used, and such an one is the following Epithem.

Take of the Powder of Zedoary one Draw, of the Waters of Bettony, Vervain, and Elder, each one Ounce; mingle them, apply it hot to the pained part, with Scar∣let Cloth.

Among the Specificks for the pain of the Head, from whatever Cause it arises, Vervain is the chief, whereof the distilled Water is applied to the Head, and taken in∣wardly to four Ounces, with four Drops of Spirit of Salt; and Forestus says, that he knew two sick People that were Cured, by only hanging green Vervain about their Necks, when other Medicines were used to no purpose.

If the pain of the Head proceed from a hot Cause, give first a Glyster, and then Bleed: But a greater quan∣tity of Blood is to be taken away when the Pain proceeds from Blood, than when Choler abounds. Afterwards some Medicines that Purge Choler must be given; not only when Choler is the chief Cause, but also when Blood is Luxuriant; for the thinner part soon turns to Choler. If by one Evacuation, the peccant matter is not sufficiently purged, the Purging Medicine must be repeat∣ed at due distances of time, in the whole course of the Disease if the Belly be not fluid, Glysters that are emollient, cooling, and gently Purging, are to be injected every day.

For pains of the Head, which come upon continual Feavers: Sheeps Lungs taken out hot and applied to the Head, do powerfully asswage the Pain: Or,

Take of the Seeds of white Poppies two Drams, of Saffron half a Scruple, of Camphor one Scruple, with a suf∣ficient quantity of Populeon Oyntment, spread them upon Leather, and apply them to the Forehead.

And after general Evacuations, derivation may be successfully used, by Bleeding in the Forehead with a Lancet, or with Leeches, and by applying Blisters to the

Neck. In the mean while, the Humours must be at∣temperated by Juleps and Emulsions.

Lastly, If the Pain be very violent, we must use Nar∣coticks outwardly and inwardly.

In every Pain of the Head, from whatever Cause it arises, and will not yield to other Remedies; the Head must be shaved, and a large Blister applied all over it.