Tri-weekly journal. (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1847-188?, 1848-01-15
THE JOURNAL.
From the Philadelphia Saturday Courier.l
TREATING A CASE ACTIVELY.
PHYSICIANS STORY.
By JOHN JONES, NJ. d.

tend gentleman OF responsibility, whose
wife, lady Of intelligence and refinement,
had discovered him in his room lying sense
less on the floor.
On arriving at The house, | found Mrs.
H in great distress of mind.
'sWhat is the matter with MIR. II
| asked on meeting bis lady, who was in
tears, and looking the picture of death.
sim afraid it is apoplexy," she replied
al found him lying upon the floor, where
he had 10 all appearance, fallen suddenly
from his chair His face is purple, and
though he breathes, il is with great difficult
y."
went up 10 see my patient. He had
been llf,ed from the floor and was now w.
ing upon the bed. Sure enough his face
was purpo, and bis breathing labored, but
somehow the symptoms did not indicate APP
poplexy. Every vein in his head and face
was iinged. and he lay perfectly stupid, but
still saw no clear indications of actual or
approaching congestion Of the brain.
''Hadn'l he better be Lled, Doctor?" ask
cd the anxious wife.
81 don't know that il is necessary, | re-
piled, 81 think il we let him alone il will
pass of IN the course OF few hours"
"a few hours! He may die in half an
bsur."
81 doa't think the case is so dangerous
madam"
"Apoplexy not dangerous!"
81 hardly think il apoplexy, replied.
spray what do you think it is Doctor?"
Mrs. H looked anxiously into my
face.
ldelicately limited that he might possibly,
have been drinking too much brandy, but 10
this she positively and almost Indignantly OBJ
jected.
"No Doctor. ought TO know about
that" she said. "Depend upon it, the dis
case is more deeply seated. am sure he
had better be bled. Won't you bleed him
Docior2 A few ounces Of blood taken from
his arm may give life TO his now stagnant
circulation Of the blood in his veins"
Thus urged, |, after some reflection, or,
dered bowl and bandage, and opening a
vein, from which the blood flowed freely,
relieved him of about eight ounces Of his
circulating medium. But, he still lay as in
sensible as before, much TO the distress o.
his poor wife.
Something else must be done, Doctor
she urged, seeing that bleeding had accom-
plshed nothing. "lf my husband is not
quickly relieved, he must die"
BY this time, several friends and relatives
who had been sent Tor arrived, and urged
upon me The adoption of some more active
means for restoring the sick man to con
sciousnes. One proposed mustard plaster:
all over his body; another blister on the
head; another bis immersion in hot water
suggested that il might be we'll to use 1
stomach pump.
"Why, Docior2" asked one Of the friends
"PeIhaps he has taken some drug" re
piled.
"lmpossble, Doctor" said the wife. ale
has not been from home to-day, and there i.
no drug OF any kind in The house."
''No brlndy?" venIured tins suggestion
again.
"No, Doctor! No spirits Of any kind mol
even wine in tho house," returned Mrs
IL in an offended tone.
was not the regular family physician
and had been called TO meet the alarming
emergency, because my Office happened tC
be nearest TO the dwelling of Mr.. H
Feeling my position 10 be difficult one,
suggested that the family physician had bet
ter be called.
Shut the delay, Doctor urged the friends
"No harm will result from il be assured
replied. ..f -
But my words did not assure them; how
ever, as was firm in my resolution not &c
do any thing more for the patient until DR.
s. come, they had TO submit | wished
TO make call of importance in the neigh
borhood, and proposed going, TO be back b,
the time DR.. S. arrived; but the friend:
ofthe sick man would not suffer me 10 leave
the room.
When DR.. s. came, we converseC
aside for few minutes, and gave him my
views of,he case, and stated what had done
and why | had done it. We then proceeded
TO the bedside of our patient. There were
still no signs Of approaching consciousness
"Don't you think his head ought TO be
shaved and blistered?" asked The wife, anx
sously.
Doctor s. thought a moment, anc
then said
''Yes, by all means. Send for a barber
and also for fresh fly blister, four inches b,
nine"
| looked into the face of DIR. s. will
surprise. lie was perfectly grave and earn
est. | limited TO him my doubt OF the goot
that mode ofstrealment would do But hi