Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1848-01-07
TERMS: 50 SO i'm advance.
WHOLE NO.
From the Philadelphia Saturday Pest
TREATING A CASE ACTIVELY
A Physicians Story.
nv John JONES, NJ n


BY JOHN JONES, NJ. D.
was once sent for, in great haste, to at
tend gentleman of responsibility, whose wife,
lady of intelligence and refinement, had dis
covered him in his room lying senseless on
the floor.
On arriving at the house, I found Mrs.
H in great distress of mind
What IS The matter with Mr. H"
asked, on meeting his lady, who was in tears,
and looking the picture of distress.
I'm afraid ii is apopIexy,' she replied. i
found him lying upon the floor, where he had,
10 all appearance, fallen suddenly from his
chair. His face is purple, and though be
breathes, it is with difficulty
l went up to see my patient. He had been
lifted from the floor, and was now lying upon
the bed. Sure enough his face was purple,
and his breathing labored, but somehow the
symptoms did not indicate apop!exy Every
vein in his head and face was Hinged, and he
lay perfectly stupid. but still saw no clear
indications OF an actual OF approaching con-
gestion of the brain.
Hadn't he better be bled, Doctor" asked
the anxious wife.
don't know that it is necessary replied.
think II we let him alone it will pass eff in
Inc course OF lew hours
A lew hours ! He may die 10 half an
hour
1 don't think the case is so dangerous, ma
DAM
tApoplexy not dangerousp
hardly think it apop!exy,' replied
Pray what DO you think it is, Doctor"
Mrs H looked anxiouslv into my face
| delicately limited that he might, possibly
have been drinking too much brandy, but to
this she positively and almost indignantly oh.
jected.
No, Doctor, Fought to know about that,
she said Depend upon it, the disease is
more deeply seated. am sure be had better
be bled. Won't you bleed him, Doctors A
few ounces of blood taken from his arm may
give life to the now stagnant circulation OF the
blood in his veins
Thus urged, !, after some reflection, order
ed a bowl and bandage, and opening vein
from which the blood flowed freely, relieved
him of about eight ounces of his circulating
medium. But he still lay as nsensibe as be-
fore, much 10 the distress of his poor wife
Something else must be done, Doctor sh,
urged, seeing that bleeding had accomplished
nothing, Ii my husbands not quickly reIev
ed, he must die
By this time several friends and relative
who had been sent for arrived, and urged up
on me the adoption of some more active means
for restoring the SICK man to consciousness
me proposed mustard piasters all over his bo
dy; another blister on the head; another hi
immersion in hot water. | suggested that i
might be we'll to use a stomach pump
why, Doctor asked one of the friends
Perhaps he has taken some drug l re
piled
Impossible, Doctor said the wife. H
has not been from home to- day. and there j
no drug of any kind in the house,
mo brandy" | ventured this suggestion
again.
mo, Doctor! No spirits OF any kind, no
even wine, in the house, returned Mrs H
in an offended tone
was not the regular family physician, an,
had been called to meet the alarming emer
gency because my Office happened to be near
est to the dwelling of Mr.. H. Feelin!
my position 70 be difficult one, suggestet
that the family physician had better be called
But the delay, Doctor urged the friends.
No harm will result from it, be assured
replied.
But my words did not assure them. How
ever, as was firm IN my resolution not to d.
anything more for the patient until Dr. S.
come, they had to submit wished 20 max
call of Importance in the neighborhood, ant
proposed going, to be back by the time Dr.
$ arrived bat he friends of the sick mai
would not suffer me to leave the room.
When DIR. S came, we conversed asd
| for few minutes, and gave him my view
of the case, and stated what had done, an,
why had done it. We then proceeded to tn
bedside of our patient There were still NJ
signs of approaching consciousness.
Don't you think his head ought to be sha
we'd and b!istered " asked the wife, anxiously
Doctor s thought a moment, and the
said,
Eyes, by eli means Send for a barber
and also for fresh fly blister, four inches b,
nine
looked into the face of Dr.. $ viii
surprise 1t was perfectly grave and earnest
I limited TO him my doubt of the good tina
mode of treatment would do. But he spok
confidently OF the result, and said that it woul
not only cure the disease, but, he believed
| take away the predisposition thereto wit
which Mr.. H was affected in a high de
gree
The barber came The head of H wa
shavel and DR.. $ applied the blister viii
his own hands, which completely covered tn
| scalp from forehead 10 occiput.
Let it remain on for two hours, and the
make use of the ordinary dressing said Dl
S. . If he should not recover during th
action of the blister, don't feel uneasy. Sen
| sibiltv will be restored soon after
Ibid not call again, but heard from D.
s. the result.
After we left, our friends stood anxiousi
around the bed upon which the sick man lay
| but though the blister began TO draw, no sign
of returning consciousness showed themselves
| further than an occasional low moan, or a
uneasy tossing OF the arms. For two full hours
the burning plaster parched the tender skin
HIS shorr head, and was then removed
II had done goad service Dressings we'
then applied repeated AMI repeated again; BIT
still the sick man lay in deep stupor
1T had done no cool. Hain't we beta
send for the Doctor 2 suggested the wife.
Just then the eyesof H opened. and !
looked with hall stupid surprise from face I
face of the anxious group that surrounded II
bel.
What in the mischiefs the matter !" he
length said. Atthe same time feeling strane
sensation about his head, he placed his han
rather heavily thereon.
Heavens and earth! = He was now I'M
in his senses. Heavens and earth /" "
ais my head E" ).
For mercy's sake keep qnlet' saa u
wife, the glad tears gushing over hef race :
You have been very i'll. Then, there, now
And she spoke sootbingly. Don't say a wore
but be very still