The Shasta courier., 1869-02-27
SHASTA COURIER.
HEROIC TREATMENT.

WIS OuCe SeHl IOT, III = lceiI HaosS' W az
tend man of respectability, whose wife, a
lady of intelligence and refinement, had
discovered him in his room lying senseless
upon the floor
On arriving at the house, l found Mrs.
III. in great distress of mind
".W hat is the matter with Mr.. Fl. ?" I
asked on meeting his lady, who was in tears
and looking the picture of distress.
al am afraid it is apoplexy," she replied
(" | found him lying on 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"
went up to see my patient. He had
been lifted from the floor and was lying
upon the bed. Sure enough, his face was
purple, and breathing labor; but somehow
the symptoms did not Indicate apoplexy
every vein in his face and head was filled
and he lay perfectly stupid but then
saw no clear indication of an actual or ap-
preaching congestion of the brain.
Hadn't he better be bled, doctor ?"
asked the anxious wife.
i
replied. al think if we let him alone ii
will pass off in the course of few hours y
A few hours He may die in half an
hour"
" | don't think the case so dangerous
madam"
Apoplexy not dangerous ~
l. don't hardly think it is apoplexy,
madam" replied.
Pray, what do you think it is, doctor
Mrs.--looked anxiously into my face.
deliberately hinted that he might pos
sibly have been drinking too much brandy
but this she positively and almost indig
uantly objected to.
"No, doctor, ought to know about that -
she said Depend upon it, the case is
more deeply seated. | am sure he had
better be bled. Won't you bleed him? a
few ounces of blood taken from his arm may
give life to the circulation of the blood in
his veins
Thus urged, I, after some reflection,
ordered bowl and bandage, and opened a
vein from which the blood flowed freely ;
and relieved him of about eight ounces OF
has circulating medium. But he still lay
insensible as before, much to the distress of
his poor wife.
Something else must be done, DOCTOR
she urged, seeing that the bleeding had ac-
complished nothing. /" If my husband is
not quickly relieved, he must die"
BY this time several friends and relatives
who had been sent for, arrived, and urged
upon me the adoption of some more active
means for restoring the sick man to con-
sciousness. One proposed blisters all over
the body, and another blister on the head !;
another immersion in hot water | sug-
gested that it might be well to use stomach
pump.
",Why, doctor?" asked one of his friends.
Perhaps he has taken something pois-
onous, y | replied.
" Impossible, DOCTOR" said his wife
He has not been from home to-day, and
there is no drug of any kind in the house."
$ No brandy?" Iventured the assertion
again.
" No doctor. No spirits of any kind,
not even wine in the house" returned Mrs
H., in an offended tone.
| was not the regular family physician,
and had been called in to meet the alarm
ing emergency because my cffice happened
to be nearest to the dwelling of the sick
man. Feeling my position to be delicate
one, | suggested that the family physician
had better be sent for.
"But the delay, DOCTOR" urged the
friend.
"No harm will result from it, be as
sured,' [ replied
But my words did not assure them
However, as | was firm in my resolution not
to do anything more for the patient until
DR.. S-came, they had to submit. |
wished to make a call of Importance in the
neighborhood, and proposed going-to be
back by the time DR.. S. arrived but the
friends of the sick man would not suffer me
to leave the ROOM
When DIR. S. came, we conversed aside
few moments, end gave him my views Of
the case, and stated what | had done, and
why had done it. We then proceeded to
the bedside of the patient There were
still no signs of approaching consciousness.
" Dom you think his head ought to be
shaved and blistcred 2" asked the wife
anxiously
Dr. 5. thought for a moment, and then
said
" Yes, by all means Send for barber
and also for fresh fly plister, four inches
by uine"
l looked in the face of DR.. S. with Sur.
prise 1t was perfectly grave and earnest.
L ventured to express to him nv doubt of
the good that mode of treatment would do
But he spoke confidently of the result. and
said that would not only cure the disease
but, he believed, take away the predisposi.
ton thereto, with which Mr.. H. was af.
fected in high degree
The head of Mr.. III. was shaved. and
DR.. S. applied the blister with his own
hands, which completely covered the scalp
from forehead to occiput.