MIGRAINE, mi-gran' OF.. Fr. from Lat. he/ale/it/ion, from Gk. r;AtKparta, he mi hrania, pain in one side of the head, from half Kpaviov, kra,lia , head), LNIEGRIM, IIEMICRANIA. SICK HEADACHE. .A paroxysmal af fection eharacterized by severe headache. usually one-sided and often ass.wiated with disorders of vision. It is sometimes hereditary. Women are the chief sufferers. ;Migraine is often associated with gout, the atism, decayed teeth, eye strain, and uterine disorders. It is often due to reflex causes, such as powerful emotions, mental and bodily fatigue, disorders of digestion, and the like. There are often premonitory signs of an attack. There may be spasms of the pupil of the eve en the affected side; or the sight may be blurred or there seem to be balls of light or zig zag lines, or gorgeous colors. The tongue, face, and hand may experience numbness or tingling. There is sometimes dizziness. The headache is generally located on the temple, or in the fore head or in the eyeball; it is penetrating, sharp, and boring in character. It spreads gradually over the side of the head. sometimes extending to the neck and even to the arm. The face may then be pale and there may he a marked differ ence between the two sides. Nausea or vomiting
appears very early in the attack. Few affections are more prostrating than migraine. The attack endure• for a variable time; the sufferer is usual ly incapacitated for about three days. Those subject to migraine should avoid excitement; there should be regular meals and the diet should he moderate. Hydrotherapy and out-of-door life are important adjuvants. The physician will direct the treatment toward the removal of the conditions upon which the attacks depend. The eyes should he examined for possible errors of refraction ur heterophoria, either of whieb may be the underlying cause of migraine. Among drugs the bromides, iron, arsenic. nitroglycerin. can nabis indica. quinine. chloroform. antipyrine, caffein. mix vomica. and ergot may be employed according to the cause which produces the mi graine. None of these drugs should be used except upon a phyl•ician's advice. Dangerous symptoms of collapse have been known to follow the use of phenaeet in. Eleetricity has been fond helpful. During the paroxysm the sufferer should remain quiet in bed in a dark room. Sec HEAD ACHE.