On megrim, sick-headache, and some allied disorders : a contribution to the pathology of nerve-storms / by Edward Liveing.

  • Liveing, Edward, 1823-1919.
Date:
1873
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On megrim, sick-headache, and some allied disorders : a contribution to the pathology of nerve-storms / by Edward Liveing. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by UCL Library Services. The original may be consulted at UCL (University College London)

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    potassium month by month alternately^ I found that the latter preparation seemed to exert a more beneficial influence than the former/''* In view however of the fact^ that besides the permanent benefit derived from the more pro- longed use of these remedies in correcting a neurosal disposition^ a single full dose of some of them will often cut short a neuralgic paroxysm or induce sleep_, we must^ I think, consider that their principal operation is directly on the nervous system itself, and of a specific sedative kind ; this is more especially seen under circumstances of morbid activitybut may also be traced in connexion with some physiological actions of the healthy economy, as in the arrest of the disposition to cough on irritation of the throat by bromide of ammonium, and of the sexual propensities by bromide of potassium. Valerian and the Valerianate of Zinc are remedies of great value in the treatment of some cases of megrim, as they are in many other neuroses. I prescribe them alone or in combination with henbane or belladonna. It is well known that Valerian has been successfully employed both in epilepsy and hysteria from a very early period in the history of medicine, and the combination of zinc with valerian and hyoscyamus, in the form of Meglin's Pills, has earned a great reputation for the relief of facial (hemicranial) and other forms of neuralgia. The modern valerianate of zinc is a still better preparation of the same drugs, and is now extensively used in the treatment both of neuralgic and epileptic afifections. We have already recorded (p. 333) an instance of the cure of an intractable hiccup by this remedy. Dr. Fordyce thus speaks of the very great benefit he derived from the use of large doses of Valerian in his own sufferings from megrim:— Ad id tandem devenio quod palmarium mihi videtur remedium, radicem scilicet Valerianae sylvestris, quae largiori dosi sumpta, et repetita ssepe sola dolores sanat turn acutos tum diuturnos. Me * On Epilepsy, 3rd edition, 18G], p. 167.