Page:Australian enquiry book of household and general information.djvu/159

 relief, an enema of salt and warm water should be administered, and if the sufferer objects to the regular dose of medicine, the enema given regularly will often establish a cure.

Headaches that result from the sun are best taken to a medical man at once, as there are so many complications that can ensue from unskilful treatment or neglect. If no doctor is available, a dose of medicine can do no harm, and, if possible, apply iced cloths to the back of the neck, or let the tap flow over it.

Nervous headache often comes from over excitement or weakness. A dose of may help to cure it, or a few drops of ammonia in a wine glass of water, but the patient must keep quiet, and, if possible, sleep. Ten grains of taken in a little water is an almost certain cure for any headache. Lie down for a few moments after taking it.

For nervous headaches a small cup of strong coffee, into which the juice of a lemon has been squeezed. Tea should not be taken at such times, as it is likely to aggravate nervousness, and all nervous disorders.

Neuralgia is often called headache when it attacks the nerves about the forehead, just as it is called toothache when the side of the jaw is affected. In reality, it is a distinct disease, and one very common to both sexes. One cure is a teaspoonful of flowers of sulphur in half a cup of milk three mornings running, on the fourth take a dose of medicine. The sulphur will need blending carefully, or it will be unpleasant to drink, as it is so dry. Be careful not to take cold while it is in the system, and wear no jewellery, or it will become blackened. It is almost a certain cure; indeed, I have never known it fail, even in very severe cases. Anyone very liable to catch cold would be the better for remaining in bed while taking it, as it opens all the pores of the skin. Quinine is also very good for neuralgia, taken in small doses in the form of pills. I have always found a better effect from two grains at a time than four or five in cases of acute neuralgia. The quinine is perhaps quicker in its effects than the sulphur, but the latter is more lasting, and its action upon the whole system is good.

The most common causes of these complaints are improper food, such as unripe or over-ripe fruit, change in the weather, and bad smells from decaying animal or vegetable matter. People in this country are so careless about such matters, and so used to bad drainage and offensive smells, that, when an epidemic of diarrhœa or dysentery breaks out, it is hard to convince them the disease has originated in their midst, they are so used to thinking no harm will come from this drain, or that cesspool. Perhaps some day when a regular epidemic of cholera sweeps through the whole colony, a system of drainage will be instituted. As it is, every now and then typhoid, diarrhœa, and dysentery make their appearance, and tax the energies and talents of our best medical men to get rid of them. Impure water is another fruitful source of all these complaints, for which reason all water for drinking should be either filtered or boiled. Many people imagine that because they use nothing but iron tanks, their water must be all right; but such is not the case, for frogs are as apt to get in and die or be drowned there as in a swamp, unless a perforated wire strainer is fitted to each; even then they frequently get under. It is a mistake to stop a sudden attack of diarrhœa at once, as, in many instances, it may be nature relieving herself, and when the cause is expelled from the bowels, it will stop, But when it continues for some days with violent pain, and at last vomiting, then it is time to resort to means for cure. Nearly every one