The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-02-26
Miscellaneous.
TREATING A CASE AC-
VELY.
A PHYsICIAN's STORY.
BY J. JONES, NJ. u.


had discovered him in his room lying sense
less on the floor.
On arriving at the house, l 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 ofdistress.
II am afraid it is apopleXy," she said. II
found him lying upon the floor where he
had, TO all appearance, fallen suddenly from
his chair. His face is purple, and though he
breathes, it is with great difficulty"
IYent up to see my patient He had been
iift&a 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 apoplexy. Every
vein in his head and face was tinged. and he
lay perfectly stupid, hut still saw no clear
indication of an actual or approaching con-
gestion of the brain.
Hadn't he better be bled, DOCTOR" asked
the anxious wife.
~ don't know that it is necessary" | re-
piled. think five let him alone it will
pass offin the course ola few hours"
"a few hoursl He may die in haitian hour"
81 don't think the case is so dangerous
madam"
"Apoplexy not dangerous?"
''lhardly think it apoplexy," replied.
"Pray, what do you think il is, doctor"
Mrs. H-looked anxiousIy into my face.
Idelicately limited that he might, possibly,
have been drinking too much brandy; but to
this she positively and almost Indignantly
objected.
NO, doctor. | ought TO know about that"
she said. depend upon it the disease is
more deeply seated. am sure he had bet
ter be bled. Won't you bleed him, doctor?
\ 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. or
lered bowl and bandage, and opening
vein, from which the blood flowed freely, re-
.leved him of about eight ounces ofhis crcu-
Iating medium.
But he still lay as insensible ns before much
TO the distress of his poor wife!
something else must be done doctor, "she
urged, seeing thar bleeding had accomplish
ed nothing. eff my husband is not quickly
relieved he must die.'
By this time several friends and relatives
vino had been sent for, arrived and urged up
ON me the adoption of some more active
means for restoring the sick man to conscious
ness. One proposed mustard plasters all o.
Ter his body; another his EMERSON in hot wa
ter. suggested that it might be well to use
a stomach pump.
why, doctOr?" asked one of the friends.
Perhaps he has taken some drug" | re-
piled.
impossible, DOCTOR" said the wife. "He
has not been from home to-day, and there is
no drug of any kind in the house."
No brandy" ventured this suggestion a.
gain.
No. doctor! No spirits ofany kind nor
even wine in the house," returned Mrs. H., |
IN an offended tone.
Twas not the regular family physician and
had been called in to meet the alarming e.
mergency, because my office happened to be .
nearest the dwelling of Mr. II. Feeling my
position to be difficult one, | suggested that
the family physician had better he called.
But the delay, DOCTOR" urged the friends
No harm will result from it, be assured"
lrepIied.
But my words did not assure them. How
ever, as was firm in my resolution not to
do anything more for the patient until DR.. 5.
came they had to submit. ] wished TO mike
a call of importance in the neighbOrhood, and
proposed going, to be back by the time Dr.
:. arrived; but the friends of the sick man
would not suffer me to leave the room.
When DIR. S. came, we conversed aside
Tor few minutes, and | gave my views of
Tie case and stated what had done, and
why had done il. There were still no signs
OF approaching consciousness.
Don't you think his head ought to be
shaved and blistered?" asked the wife anX-
Ousy.
Doctor 8. thought moment and then said
Yes. by all means. Send for barber; 81
also for fresh fly blister, four inches Ivy
nine" looked into the face of DIR. s. with
surprise. He was perfectly grave and earn
est. limited to him my doubt of the good
that mode of treatment would do. But he
spoke confidently ofthe result, and said that
Il would not only cure the disease, but, he
believed, take away the predisposition there |
70 with which Mr. II. was affected in a high
degree.
The barber came. The head of II. was
shaved; and Doctor 5. applied the blister with
his own hands, which completely covered
the scalp from forehead to occiput.
Let it remain on for two hours and then
make use ofthe ordinary dressing" said DR..
), If he should not recover during the ac-
Ton ofthesblster, don't feel uneasy. Sensi-
hlllty will be restored soon after"
did not call again, but heard from DIR,
;. the result
After we left, the friends stood anxiously
around the bed upon which the sick man lay;
nut though the blister began to draw, no
Signs OF returning consciousness showed
themselves further than an occasional low
moani or nm uneasy tossing ofthe arms. For
\ illl two hours the burning plaster parched
he tender skin of H's shorn head, and was
Then removed. 1t had done good SERVICE
Dressings were then applied; repeated and
repeated again, but still the sick man lay in
deep stupor.
ut has done no good. Hadn't we better
send for the physician" suggested the wife
Just then the eyes Off. opened, and he
looked with stupid surprise from face to face
't The anxious group that surrounded his bed.
What in the mischiefs the natter2" he nj
length said; nt the same time, feeling
II strange sensation about his head, he placed