Electro-physiology and electro-therapeutics : showing the best methods for the medical uses of electricity / By Alfred C. Garratt.

various sorts are the very nature of our nerves. They respond to, and learn to call for, habits — good regular habits ; so will they soon learn to repeat, and even demand, evil habits, and painful periods, as if natural. Indeed, the periodic evolution of nerve force is a law of our very nature ; and as this is true in physiology, so do we often see its force in neurological pathology, (morbid physiology ?) Headache ! —for years, perhaps, a profound and often-recur- ring distress in the very dome of the great nerve centre, where all the influences and sympathies of the entire organism and being conspire to awake it anew, and perpetuate its existence! How shall we cure it ? What actual change is to be brought about, what new impression is to be established, in this capital of states, this kingdom, with living automatic telegraphs with way-stations for simultaneously and harmoniously operating hydraulics, pneumatics, manufactories, and laboratories, where are large classes of operatives, individuals, families, and neigh- borhoods, each of which having offices, rights, and sympathies to be performed and sustained, represented and defended — yes, and are there not some peculiarly odd, sensitive, tattling, " mischief-making " ones ? All this in one body ! How shall we, then, relieve or cure a profound headache ? Now. my answer to all this is, first, simply, that there is no one remedy — there can be no " specific " for these cases. My rule of action here is, to stop the pain as soon as possible, and then prevent the recurrence by any and every possible means. Find out what causes the headache, and with greatest vigilance avoid this source. When the attack actually comes on, even unasked, then cut it short by any means at hand ; bat cut it short, break up the habit, break up any regular recurrence of paroxysm. One patient will find relief in standing up, another in lying down flat upon the back, another from opiates, but others only from stimulants ; others get marked relief from a cup of hot tea or coffee, or perhaps these combined with morphia, or camphor, or brandy; while others find it better from a cold drink of boneset, (thoroughwort — evpatorium perfoliatvm;) others there are who get relief from eating something, while a greater num-