This case is reported because of the unusual rapidity with which the symptoms developed and their extraordinary severity, leading to a fatal termination.
REPORT OF CASE
Onset.
—E. S., a white woman, aged 63, first complained of symptoms on March 12, 1927, consisting chiefly of nausea and terrific pain over the entire head. The patient was perfectly well in every way on March 11. At 5 a. m. on the 12th, she awakened with a terrific pain in the temporal part of the head, extending over the eyes. It was extremely severe and different from any other previous headaches, associated with nausea and followed within two hours by vomiting. She found it impossible to retain any food that day. The extreme retching increased the pain in the head markedly. There was noticeable drowsiness the entire day. Codeine sulphate, one-half grain (32 mg.), slightly relieved the headache and somewhat controlled the