Head Massaging The
Sources: Papers On HealthThis is so important in many cases of neuralgia,
headache, and eye troubles, that we here describe it. The brow is first
gently stroked upward from behind, with the palm of the hand, while
the back of the patient's head rests against the chair or other
support. The sides of the head are then similarly treated, using a hand
for each side simultaneously. Then the back of the head is stroked
upward also. After this is wel
similarly from front to back. Then the whole head, except the forehead,
is rubbed briskly but lightly with the tips of the fingers with a
scratching motion, but not using the nails. This is best done piece
by piece, taking care to do every part in turn. This treatment may be
often alternated with the cooling of the head with cold towels, with
the best results. In all cases of head uneasiness and neuralgia it is
invaluable (see Eyes, Paralysis of; Eyes, Squinting; Massage).
Frequently a small part of the head will be found where the rubbing
with the finger tips is particularly soothing. Special attention, of
course, should be given to this, as it is nature's guide to relief. But
if pain and uneasiness result from the rubbing, it should be stopped,
and some other cure substituted. Understand that what you have to do is
to gently press the returning stream of venous blood on in its course
from the weighted brow back over the top of the head. Rub very slowly
and deliberately, as the stream you are affecting flows slowly. The
frequency with which you change from the rubbing to the cold cloth, and
from that again to the rubbing, will depend a good deal on the heat
that you find persistent in the head, but usually you may rub two
minutes and cool during one minute. More or less relief will come in a
very short time, and in ten minutes or a quarter of an hour there will
be a very great change for the better.
We had a very curious case lately. A little girl was brought to us one
morning who had been quite blind of one eye for a fortnight. We tried
the eye with a rather powerful lens, but she could see nothing. That
eye had a squint, which was also of a fortnight's standing. The pupil
of the eye was dilated, but nothing else seemed wrong. The girl was
affected with worms in some degree, but otherwise healthy. We gave her
head a massaging, such as we have been describing, for some ten minutes
or so. She was given the first of four or five doses of santolina next
morning, which her mother said she threw up and some bilious matter
besides. She was brought to us an hour or so after, and we found that
she had forgotten which had been the blind eye. She now saw perfectly
with both, and the squint was gone. We had not tried whether the
rubbing had had the curative effect before the santolina was given, or
whether it was after the latter that the sight was restored, but we are
disposed to think that the squinting and blindness both had given way
to the head's improvement by the massaging.
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Fever At Night
Frequently, in illness, a fever sets in as night approaches, and increases toward midnight, passing away during the day. The treatment may be as below for Intermitting Fever. ... Fever Delirium In
See Delirium. ... Fever Gastric
In this fever, now known as a form of Typhoid, the disease spreads a sort of blight over the nervous centres, and from the first greatly lowers their power. The patient is too weak to bear the powerful cooling recommended in Fever; there is also a ten... Fever Hay
See Hay Fever. ... Fever Influenza
This is a slow, smouldering kind of fever. For treatment, pack the feet and legs in hot fomentation over the knees, and apply cold cloths over the stomach and heart, taking care in applying the cold if the patient is weak. In such a case only moderat... Fever Intermitting
For this the treatment may be given as in gastric fever, and, in addition, the stomach and bowels should be carefully lathered over with soap lather (see Lather). This has a wonderfully soothing effect. It may be spread with the hand over the skin, an... Fever Rheumatic
This results from severe damp chills, usually following exhaustion from some cause. Its best treatment at an early stage is by heat applied to the spinal nerves. If the trouble be chiefly in the legs, treat the lower back; if in the arms, treat the u... Fever Scarlet Or Scarlatina
As a first precaution, when an epidemic of this exists, children should be sponged twice a week all over with hot vinegar before being put to bed. This is a powerful preventive. If anything like sore throat appears, bathe the child's feet in hot water... Fever Typhoid
Treat as under Fever, Gastric, and Fever. In addition, great care should be taken to disinfect and destroy any stools, and especially to prevent these getting into any drinking water. Keep the patient at rest in bed. No solid food should be given... Fits
See Convulsions; Nervous Attack. ... Flannel Bands
See Band, Flannel. ... Flatulence
This is the accumulation of gases in the body, usually caused by fermentation of the food at some part of the digestive process. A failure of the vital energy in the stomach and related organs is generally the cause. Over-exertion, worry, grief, any ... Flushings Hot
These are often a really serious trouble, especially to women, at certain stages of life. Most often they come about the age of fifty, but in weakly persons may occur at any time. A disturbance in the nervous system, due to lack of energy, is the caus... Fomentation
Some general remarks on this important treatment we give here. First, no fomenting should be done for at least an hour after a meal. And it should usually be followed by a period of complete rest. A very good way to foment any part of the back or fron... Fomentation Armchair
This is applied as follows. Over a large armchair spread a folded sheet. Provide a good large blanket prepared as above in Fomentation. Then rub the haunches, thighs, lower back and abdomen of the patient with a little olive oil. Wrap these parts in a... Food And Mental Power
Unsuitable or ill-cooked food has a most serious effect on the mental powers; and when we take the case of a mental worker, we see that, in order to carry this power right on through a long life, proper diet is of great importance. Also many good men... Food In Health
As will be seen from many of these articles, the question of diet is one of the greatest importance, in health as well as in disease. The onset of disease is, in fact, often due to long-continued abuse of the whole digestive system through the use of ... Food In Illness
Light, easily digested food is of the first importance in many illnesses. To know easily procured and simple foods, which are really light, is a great matter. Saltcoats biscuits (see Biscuits and Water) form one of the best and most nourishing foods. ... Fright
Some most distressing troubles come as the result of frights. In many cases much may be done to relieve such troubles, which arise from severe shock to the brain and nervous system. The results may be very various--from mere stomach troubles to paraly... From The Hygienic Dictionary 2
Toxemia. [1] "Toxemia is the basic cause of all so-called diseases. In the process of tissue-building (metabolism), there is cell-building (anabolism) and cell destruction (catabolism). The broken-down tissue is toxic. In the healthy body (when... Gangrene
See Cancer in Foot. ... Gatherings
See Abscess; Ankle; Armpit; Bone, Diseased. ... Giddiness And Trembling
This comes very often as the result of loss of nerve power in the spinal system, due to weakness, shock, or simply old age. A great deal may be done to relieve, and in many cases to completely cure, by the following simple means. Wrap the patient roun... Glands Of Bowels
See Bowels. ... Glands Swollen
This is a very common trouble, especially in the young. To restore the skin to healthy action is the first important matter. This may be done by bathing the feet (see Bathing the Feet) until free perspiration ensues, wrapping the patient meanwhile in ... Gout
Some have a predisposition to this most painful disease, and require to keep a strict watch on their diet. Meat, specially the internal organs, meat extracts, alcohol, tea, and coffee must be avoided, and milk, buttermilk and porridge, cheese, eggs, a... Gravel
Sometimes mere internal inflammation is mistaken for this disease. In the case of inflammation of the bladder, apply a large hot BRAN POULTICE (see) to the lower back, and change cold towels over the front of the body where the pain is. Afterwards rub... Growth Of Body
See Limb, Saving a. ... Guaiacum
This drug is a West Indian gum, and is one of those remedies we are glad to say will do no harm, while in rheumatism and gout it is most beneficial. A teaspoonful of the tincture in a cup of hot water, or one or two of the tabloids now so easily had, ... Haemorrhage
See Bleeding; Wounds. ... Hair Coming Off
There are many forms of this disfiguring trouble, both in the case of young and old persons. It is chiefly due to a wrong state of the skin of the head, which is best treated with careful rubbing with vinegar or weak acetic acid, and finishing with go... Hands Clammy
Rub the hands and arms well twice a day with CAYENNE LOTION (see). ... Hands Cold
Much more than is readily believed depends on the state of the hands and feet. We are already familiar with the subject of coldness in the feet, but we meet with cases in which the coldness of the hands is as striking. It is not readily thought that c... Hands Dry And Hard
Pack the hands in SOAP LATHER (see) mixed with a little fine olive oil. The soap must be finely lathered with a brush, not melted. Pure soft water, never too hot nor too cold, should be used, and the hands thoroughly dried after washing. See Chapped ... Hay Fever
A most effective preventive and cure for this is the inhaling through the nostrils the vapour of strong acetic acid. The acid may be on a sponge enclosed in a smelling bottle, and its vapour may be freely inhaled. Sponge all over each night with hot a... Head Baths
See Baths for Head. ... Head Massaging The
This is so important in many cases of neuralgia, headache, and eye troubles, that we here describe it. The brow is first gently stroked upward from behind, with the palm of the hand, while the back of the patient's head rests against the chair or othe... Head Skin Of The
The nerves of sensibility are very largely supplied to the skin of the head, and many large nerves pass under it. It is therefore an important matter that it be kept in a right condition. In various troubles it becomes hard and dry, and even contracts... Head Soaping
Have a piece of M'Clinton's soap, a good shaving brush, and a bowl of warm water. Rub the wet brush on the soap, and work the lather up in the hollow of the left hand, taking more soap and water in the brush as necessary, until the left hand is full o... Head Sounds In
As the result and accompaniment of deafness these are sometimes most distressing, even preventing the patient from sleeping. They are often caused by chill producing some inflammation of the ear, and stoppage of the internal or external air passages. ... Headache
There is a vast variety of ailments associated with what is called headache. In itself, it is just more or less pain in the head. When there is such pain, it means that some of the nerves in the head are in a wrong state, probably in nearly all cases ... Headache Sick
The stomach and head affect each other powerfully, and a disordered stomach causes severe headache, known as sick headache. In many cases a few tablespoonfuls of hot water, taken at intervals of five minutes, will effect a cure. He is himself "simple"... Health And Money
It will be noticed that the remedies we recommend are in almost every case very cheap--even, like hot water, costing nothing, as they are in every house. This very simplicity and commonness has turned many against our treatment. We know, indeed, of o... Hearing
We have had so much success in helping the deaf that we feel warranted in seeking to spread the knowledge of our methods as widely as possible. Deafness is caused in many ways--very often by exposure of the head to a chill, especially in infancy. W... Heartburn
See Acidity in Stomach. ... Heat And Weakness
We have over and over again shown in these papers how heat passes into vital action, and gives strength to failing organs and nerves. But the heat supplied to these organs must be at a certain temperature. All experience goes to show that gentle heati... Heat Internal
There is a usual (normal) temperature in all the blood and tissues of the body. If the body be either warmer or colder than this point (98.4 deg. Fahr.), its health is interfered with. A "clinical thermometer" is used to ascertain whether the bodily ... Heel Sprained
Often in sprains all attention is given to the bruised and torn muscles, while similarly bruised and torn nerves are overlooked; yet upon the nerves the perfect healing of the muscles depends. Hence, in a sprain of the heel we must be careful not to ... Hiccup
Though often but slight, disappearing in a few minutes by some simple device, such as holding the breath, when long continued this becomes most serious. Very often it is an added distress in trouble which is itself incurable; but while the patient's l... Hip-joint Disease
Thorough heating, with moist heat is the best treatment for this trouble. This implies time, work, and patience; but all these are well spent. Let a strong fomentation be given twice a day to the hip joint, with oiling before and after, each applicati... Hives
See Rash. ... Hoarseness
This trouble we may consider in three ways:--First, as the effect of overstrain in using the voice; in this case rest must be taken from speaking or other such work. Remedies which restore the voice without rest are very likely to do permanent injury.... Hooping Cough
See Whooping Cough. ... Hope And Healing
The mind has always an influence on the body. Life rises and falls under the influences of ideas, so as to prove that these are a matter of life and death to man. To give an invalid hope is, then, to help mightily in healing the disease, whereas to te... Hot Flushings
See Flushings. ... Hot-water Bags
The flat rubber bags of various shapes, to be had from all rubber shops, make excellent substitutes for poultice or fomentation; but care must be taken to have two or more ply of moist flannel between the bag and the skin of the patient. This ensures ... Housemaid's Knee
To cure a swelling on the knee-joint is, as a rule, easy. Rest is a first and paramount necessity. Bathing with hot water, not too hot for comfort, for at least an hour each day is usually sufficient. If the knee has been blistered, or leeched, it is ... Hydrocele
See Dropsy. ... Hysteria
This is usually brought on by some excessive strain upon the brain nerves, and may show itself either in the violent or in the fainting form; it may even pass from the one to the other, fainting alternating with violent movements and cries. It may oft... Illness The Root Of
In treating any trouble it is well to get to the root of it. On one occasion a patient complained that the doctor never struck at the root of his illness. The doctor lifted his walking-stick and smashed the brandy bottle which stood on the table, rem... Imaginary Troubles
These are of two kinds, the one purely imaginary, the other where bodily trouble is mixed with the imagined. In the first case the patient is in agony with a pain, when nothing wrong can be discovered in the part, or even elsewhere, to account for it.... Indigestion
(See also Digestion; Assimilation.) This subject leads naturally to a consideration of food in relation to it. The trouble usually is that food easily enough digested by others causes distress to the patient. Here we at once see that cooking plays a m... Infant Nursing
A mother who has had strength to bear a child is, as a rule, quite strong enough to nurse it. Suckling is natural, and usually most beneficial to health. Many women have better health and appetite at such a time than at any other. Every mother ought, ... Infants' Food
For infants who cannot be nursed at the breast, cows' milk in the "bottle" is the best substitute. But all milk used from the cow should be sterilised and cooled before use. That is unless it is found on trial that the child thrives better on unsteril... Infants' Sleep
See Children's Sleep. ... Infection
Few things have so great and distressing effect as the fear of infection in disease. As a rule this fear is not justified by the facts, where ordinary precautions are taken. These precautions, too, need not be costly, and involve in many cases little ... Inflammation Deep-seated
Often inflammation occurs in the centre of, or beneath, a mass of muscle, as the hip or thigh. We refer not to the formation of an ABSCESS (see), but to the violent, hot inflammatory action that often issues in an abscess. For this the treatment shoul... Inflammation Of The Bowels
See Bowels. ... Inflammation Of The Brain
See Brain. See also Knee; Limbs, Inflamed; Lungs, etc. ... Inflammatory Outbreaks
Sometimes a severe out-break and eruption will occur in and around the nostrils or lips, and spread over the face. (If of the nature of erysipelas, treat as under that head.) In ordinary cases, there is need for more than local treatment, as it is pro... Internal Relaxation
Pain is often felt in parts of the back or sides which will yield to no medicine such as usually relieves. This most probably arises from relaxation and swelling of some internal part of the body, so that there is more or less constant pressure on som... Itch
See Rash. ...