Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1848-02-02
MISCELLANEOUS READING.
fFrom the Philadelphia Saturday Courier
TREATING A CASE ACTIVELY.
PHYSICIANS STORY


was once sent for, in great haste, to
attend gentleman ofresPcctability, whose
wife. lady Of intelligence and refine
ment, had discovered him in his room
living senseless on the floor.
On arriving at the house, found Mrs.
Iii great distress Of mind.
"What is the matter with Mr.. H-7''
! asked on meeting his lady, who was in
tears, and looking the picture of distress.
''l'm afraid tits apoplexy," she replied.
81 found him lying upon the floor, where
ne had to all appearance, fallen suddenly
from his chair. His face is purple, and
though he Lrcathes, il is with great diff
guilty.
went up to sec my patient. lie had
been lifted from the floor and was now ly-
ing upon the bed. Sure enough his face
was purple, and his breathing labored, but
somehow the SYMPTOMS did not indicate APP
oplexy. Every vein in his head and face
was ,ingcd; and he lay perfectly stupid.
but still saw no clear indications of ac-
tual or approaching congestion Of the
brain.
''IIadn't he better be blcd, Doctor!''
asked the anxious wife.
j don't know that it is necessary, | re-
plicd,'l think if we let him alone it will
pass off i'm the course of a few hours
a few hours! lie may die in half an
hour
Il don't think the case is so dangerous
madam
'Apoplcxy not dangcrous!'
Il hard!: ::!!:ii.ik It apoplexy, replied.
pray what do you think it is Doctor!'
Mrs Il looked anxiously into my
face.
delicatcly hintcd that he might posi-
bly,, have been drinking too much brandy,
but to this she positively and almost lndig-
nantly objected.
No Doctor. | ought to know about
that she said. Depend upon it, the dis
ease is more deeply seated. ain sure he
had better be blcd. Won't you bleed him,
from his arm may give life to his now stag
nant circulation Of the blood in his veins
Thus urged. ], after some reflection, or
dcrcd bowl and bandage, and opening
Il vein, from which the blood flowed free
", relieved him of eight ounces ofhis cir
culatino medium. But, he still lay as in
sensible as before, much to the distress OF
his poor wife.
Something else must be done, Doctor.
she urged, seeing that bleeding had ac-
co,npishcd nothing. If my husband is
not quickly delivered, he must die
By this time, several friends and rela
lives, who had been sent for arrived, and
urged upon me the adoption ofsomc more
active means of restoring the sick man to
consciousness. One proposed mustard
plasters all over his body; another a blister
on the head; another his immersion in hot
water. suggested that it might be well
to use q stomach pump.
.Why, Doctor?' asked one Of the friends.
'Pcrhaps he has taken some drug re-
Piled.
Impossible, Doctor said the wife
.IIe has not been from home to-day, and
there is no drug Of any kind in the house.
No brandyr ventured this suggestion
again.
No, Doctor! No spirits Of any kind
nor even wine in the house., returned Mrs.
lin an offended tone.
was not the regular family physician,
and had been called to meet the alarming
emergency, because my office happened
TO be nearest TO the dwelling Of MIR. H.
Feeling my position to be difficult one.
suggested that the family physician had
better be called.
But the delay, Doctor urged the
friends.
NO harm will result from it be as
sured,' replied.
But nv words did not assure them; how
ever. as ! was firm in my resolution not to
10 do any thing more for the patient until
DIR. s. come, they had to submit. |
wished to make a call Of importance in
the ncighborhood, and proposed going, to
he back bv the time Dr. s. arrived: but
tho friends of the sick man would not suf-
fer me to leave the room.
When Dr. $ came. we conversed
aside for few minutes. and | gave him
NV views of the case. and stated what !
had done and why had done it. We
then proceeded TO the bedside of our pa
tent. There were still no signs of ap-
preaching consciousness.
Don't you think his head ought to be
shaved and blistered,' asked the wife, anx-