-Most people know what nightmare is by painful experience. It is a kind of horror, a feeling as if in some dreadful situation, causing oppression, as if being buried alive, or pursued by a wild beast, or drowned, whilst all power of resistance, or even of crying out, is taken away. There are three chief causes of nightmare-heavy feeding late at night, lying in bad positions in bed, and nervous over-strain, whether in the way of over-work, over-anxiety, or loss of sleep.
General Treatment.-When the cause can be reached it must be removed. Take little feed late at night, and retire early.
Medicines.-(To be taken at bedtime.)
Nux. v. 3.
-From indulgence in spirituous liquors and over- feeding; too much confinement and too little exercise.
Aconite 3.
-In children and women, accompanied by nervous and feverish symptoms, oppressive breathing, anxiety.
Calcarea c. 6.
-Night terrors in children. The child wakes up in the early morning hours and screams, all attempts to pacify it being generally in vain. In the morning it remembers nothing of what has occured.
Opium. 3.
-When the patient lies with the eyes half closed, snoring irregular breathing, face distorted, limbs convulsed.
Pulsatilla 3.
-After eating fat or rich food.
Sulph. 6.
-In chronic cases.
