The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1848-04-05
TREAT1NG$A CASE ACTIVELY.

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ss2i$,sS ls.
TREATINGEA CASE ACTIVELY.
| BY JOHN JONES, NJ. D. E
was once sent for in great haste. to
attend gentleman of respectability.
whose wife--a lady Of intelligence and
refnement-had discovered him in his
room, lying senseless on the floor.
On arriving ut the house, l found Mrs.
Il. in great di-trcss of mind. as a.it
"What is the matter with Mr.. HIP
asked, on meeting his lady, who wns in
tears and looked the picture of distress,
Hi am afraid il is apoplexy," she re.
piled. 81 found him lying on the, floor,
where he had, 10 all appearance, fallen
suddenly from his chair. His face is pur.
pie, and though he brcathes, it is with
great difficulty BAD,
I; went up to see my patient. Hc had
been lifted from the floor and was now ".
ing upon the bed. Sure enough, his face
was purple and his breathing labored, but
somehow the symptoms did not indicate
apoPlcxy. Every vein in his head and
face was Hinged. and he lay perfectly stu
pld, but still saw no clear indications of
an actual or approaching congestion Of the
brain.
Hadn't he better be blcd, doctor7s
asked the anxious wife.
81 don't know that is necessary" re-.
piled. 81 think if we let him alone. f,
will pass off in the course ofa few hours. %
"a few hours! He may die in half an
hour"
81 don't think the case is so dangerous,
madam :
"Apoplexy not dangerous!"
81 hardly think II apoplexy," replied
spray what do you think it is doctor2,'
Mrs. H-looked anxiouslv in nv
face.
delicately limited that he might posi-.
hly have been drinking too much brandy;
but she positively and almost indignantly
objected. .s
"No, doctor; ought to know about
that" she continued. depend upon it,
the disease is more deeply seated. am
sure he had better be bled. Won't vol,
bleed him doctor2 A few ounces of blood
taken from his arm may give life to the
now stagnant circulation Of blood in his
veins"
Thus urged, |, after some reflection,
ordered 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 Law in.
sensible as before, much to the distress of
his poor wife.
"SomcthIng ell. must be done, DOCTOR"
she urged, seeing that the bleeding had
accomplished nothing. "If my husband
is not quickly relieved he must die"
By this time several friends and rcla.
tIves, who had been sent for, had arrived,
and urged upon me the adoption Of some
more active measures for restoring the
sick man to consciousness. One proposed
mustard plasters all over his body, ano,h-
or his immersion in hot water. supges.
ted that it might be we'll 10 use stomach
pump.
"Why, doctor?" asked one Of his
friends.
perhaps he has taken some drug"
replied.
Impossible, dootor!.' said the wife, che
has been at home all day, and there is no
drug Of any kind about the house,"
"No brandy?" | ventured the sugges.
tion again,
"No doctor! no spirits ofany. kind in the
house," returned Mrs. Fl H,--in an often.
dcd tone,
was not the regular family physician,
and had been called to meet the emergen.
cy because my Office happened TO be
nearest to the dwelling Of Mr.. H..
Feeling my position 10 be difficult one,
| suggested that the family physician had
better be called.
"Bnt the delay, DOCTOR" said the friends.
"No harm will result from il, be assur.
cd,' replied.
But my word did not assure them.--
However, as was firm in my resolution
not to do any more for the patient until
DR.. s. came, they had to submit.
wished to make call of importance in
the neighborhood, and proposed going, to
be back by the time Dr. S. arrived; but
the friends Of the sick would not suffer
me to leave the room. z
When DR. S--came, we conyersed
aside for few minutes, and gave him
my views of the case, and stated what ]
had done, and why had done ii. I'VE
then proceeded TO the bedside of our pa