The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1853-11-23
A PHYSICIANS STORY
Treating a Case Actively.

was sent for in great haste 10 al.
tend gentleman Of responsibility, who
had been discovered in his room living
seuseless ON the floor. On arriving al
the house 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 dis.
tress. "Pm afraid il is apoplexy," she
replied ;"I found him living upon the
iloor, where he had to all appearances.
fallen suddenly from his chair. His
face Is purple. and though he breathes,
Il Is with great difficulty"
Invent up 10 see nv patient. He
bud tyen lilied d! fl.agr TN si.r iiger and. ~.s
his face was purple aud breathing la
bored but somehow the symptoms did
not Indicate apoplexy. Every vein in
his head and face was turgid, and he
lay perfectly stupid but still saw no
clear Indications Of any actual or APP
preaching congestion Of the brain.
Hadn't he better be bled, doctor :"
asked the anxious wife. 81 don't know
that it's necessary" | replied. 81
think if we let him alone il will pass
of in the course of a few hours" "a
few hours! He may die in half an
hour" al don't think the case is so
dangerous, madam" Apoplexy not
dangerous :" 1 hardly think it is
apoplexy." "Pray what do you think
ii is doctor :"
Mrs. H looked anxiously into
my face. / delieately hinted that il
might possibly have been drinking too
much brandy; but to this she indig
nantly objected. "No, doctor, oughl
to know about that" she said. " De-
pend upon it the disease is more deep
ly seated. am sure he had better b'
bled. Won't you bleed him, doctor
A few ounces of blood taken from hi,
arm may give life to the now stagnan
circulation of the blood"
/ Thus urged, I, after some reflection
ordered bowl and bandage, and
opening vein relieved him of about
eight ounces of blood. But he lay a.
insensible as before, much to the dis
tress of his poor wife. Somethn:
else must be done, DOCTOR" she urged
seeing that bleeding had accomplished
nothing. at my husband is not re
lieved quickly he must die"
By this time several relatives AM
friends who had been sent for arrived
/ and urged upon me the adoption 0
some activemeans Of restoring the sic
man to consciousness. One propose,
mustard plasters all over his body an
J other blister on the head, and a thir
|. his immersion in hot water. suggest
ed that it might be well to use sto
} mach pump. "Why, doctori" aske
. one Of his friends. Perhaps he ha
taken some drug" | replied. Impos
. sible. DOCTOR" said the wife he ha
. not been from home to-day, and ther
: is no drug in the house," No bran
dys' ventured this suggestion again
"No, doctor, no spirits of any kind
nor even wine in the house," returne
. Mrs. H, in an offended tone.
, | was not the regular family physl
{ clan, aud had been called in to NEE
a the alarming emergency because m
. Office happened to be nearest to tn
t dwelling Of Mr.. H. Feeling m
E position to be difficult one, suggest
!. ed that the family physician had bette
0 be called. I" But the delay, doctor,
{ urged the friends. " No harm will I,
: suit from it, be assured" | repliet
: But my words did not assure then
However, as | vas firm in my rcsoll