The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1854-05-10
md also for fresh fly blister, four inch


do but he spoke confidently Of tho
result. and said that it would not only
cure the disease, but he believed take
away the prcdisposition thereto, with
which Mr.. Il was effected to a high
degree
The barber came The head of Mr.
IL was shaved, and DR.. s. applied
the blister with his own hands, which
completely covered the scalp from fore
head to occiput "Le, it remain on for
two hours, and then make use of this
ordinary dressing" said DR.. S. IF he
should not recover during the action of
the blister, don't feel uneasy sensibility
will be restored soon after.h
did not call again, but heard from
DR. S. the result. After we left, the
friends stood anxously around the bed
upon which the sick man lay but
though the blister began to draw, no
signs Of returning consciousness showed
themselves further than an occasional
low moau or ureasy tossing of the arms.
For full two hours the burning plaster
parched the tender skin of II.
shorn head, and was then removed it
had done good service Dressings were
applied, repeated and repeated again,
but still the sick man lay in stupor
" 1t has done no good hadn't We better
send for the doctor ?" suggested the wife.
just then the eyes of U-opened,
and he looked with half stupid surprise
from face to face of the anxious group
that surrounded his bed "What in the
mischief is the matter p he at length
said. At the same time feeling a strange
sensation about his head he placed his
hand rather heavily thereon. Heavens
and earth r. (he was now fully in his
sGnses.l "lIcavens and earth, what ails
my head}" = For mercys sake keep
quiet" said the wife, the glad tears gush-
ing over her face - You have been very
Ill there, there now and she spoke
soothingly, don't say word, but lie
very STILL But my head What's
the matter with my head 1t feels as
if scalded. Where's my har2 Heavens
and earth Sarah, don't understand
this. And my arm, what's my arm tied
up in this way for ?" " Be quiet, my
dear husband and III explain it ali.
Oh. bo vecJ quiet your life depends up
on it,"
Mr.. H-sank back upon the pillow
from which he had risen, and closed his
eyes to think lie put his hand to his
head, aud felt it tenderly all over, from
temple to tempe, and from nape to fore
head. Is it blister p he at length
asked. " Yes, dear; YOU have been very
i'll we feared for your life, said Mrs. II'T
aticctionately: "therc have been two
physician, in attendance"
H-closed his eyes again his lips
moved. Those nearest were not much
edited BY the whispered words that is
sued therefrom. They would have
sounded very strangely in a church, or
in two ears polite and refined. After
this he lay for some time quiet Threat
ened with apoplexy, l suppose !" he said
interrogativcly. Yes, dear" replied
his wife. 1" | found you lying insensble
upon the floor, on happening to come in
to your room. 1t was most provilential
that | discovered you when | did or
you would certainly have died.
u--shut his eyes and muttcrcd
something with an air Of mpatcnce
but its meaning was not understood
Finding him out of danger, friends and
relatives retired, and the sick man was
left alone with his family.
Sarah, why in the name of goodness
did you permit the doctors to butcher
me up in this way ? I'm laid up for
week or two, and all for nothing"
" 1t was to save your life, dear"
Save the devil"
III u 5 h there do for mercy's sake
be quiet everything depends upon it"
With gesture Of impatience Il
shut his eyes, teeth, and hands, and lay
perfectly still for some minutes Then
he turned his face to the wall. mutterino
in low petuant voice, "too bad too
bad ~
| had not erred in my first and last
impression of IS disease, neither had
Dr. S, although he used very extraor
duary mode of treatment.
The facts Of the case were these. II
had a weakness he could not taste
wineuor strong drink without being tempt.
cd into excess. Both himself and friends
were mortified at this ; and they, by ad-
and he, by good resolutions,
tried to bring about a reform but to
see was to taste, and to taste was to fall. |
At last his friends urged him to shut
up at home for certain time.
and soc if total abstinence would not
give him strength. He got on very well
for few days, particularly so, as his
coachman kept well filled bottle for
him IN the carriage house, to which he |
not unfrequently resorted; but too !
ardent devotion to this bottle brought |
on the supposed apoplexy. DIR. S, was
right IN his mode of treating the disease
after all and did not err in supposing !
that it would reach the pre.disposition. |
The cure was ofIectual.
Il kept quiet on the subject. and
bore his shaved head upon his shoulders
with as much philosophy as he could
muster. A wig after the sores made
by the blister had disappeared conceal
cd the BARRIERS work until his own hair
grew out again. lIo never ventured
upon wine or brandy again for fear of
apOplexy. When the truth leaked out,
as leak out such things always will, the
friends Of Il had many a hearty
laugh but they wisely concealed from
the object OF their merriment the fact
that they knew any thing more than ap.
peared OF the cause of his supposed ill.
ness.