Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1878-06-25
MIS- CELIA Gus.
A COMICAL CURE.

81 w AS once sent Tor In great haste, to at
= tend a man of responsibility, whose wife,
a lady of inte diligence and refinement, discov-
cred him in his room lying senseless upon tho
floor.
On arriving at the house, I found Mrs.
Harris in great distress of mind.
"What is the matter with Mr.. Harris ?"
and looking the picture of distress
"Tm afraid it is apoplexy," she replied
~ found him lying on the floor, where he
had, to oil appearances, fallen suddenly from
his chair. His face is purple. and though
he breathes, it is with great difficulty"
l went up to sec my patient. He had
been lifted from the floor and was lying up
on the bed. Sure enough his face was pur>
pie, and breathing labored but somehow
the SYMPTOMS did not indicate apoplexy-
Every vein in his head and face was filled,
and he lay perfectly stupid, but still saw
no clear indication of an actual approaching
congestion of the brain.
Hadn't he better be bled, doctor 2" asked
the anxious wife.
81 don't think it is necessary" replied
''I think if we let him alone it will pass off
in the course of few hours"
ga few hours He may die in half an
hour" she exclaimed.
II don'r think the case 80 dangerous as
that, madame"
"Apoplezy not dangerous ?"
81 can hardly think it apOplexy," 1 re-
piled.
"Pr.y what do you think it is, doctor 2"
and Mrs. Harris looked auxiously into my
face as she spoke.
delicately limited he might possibly
have been drinking too much brandy, but
this she positively and almost Indignantly OBJ
jected to-
"No, doctor, ought to know about that"
she said "Depeud upon it, the case is more
deeply seated. Won't you bleed him, doc
tor? A few ounces of blood taken from his
arm may give life to the stagnant circulation
of the blood in his veins"
Thus urged, 1, after some reflection, or,
dered bowl and bandsge, and opened a
vein, from which the blood flowed freely,
and relieved him of about eight ounces Of his
circulating medium. But he still lay as in
sensible 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. eff my husband is not
quickly helped 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 conscious
ness. One proposed bisters all over the
body and another 4 blister on the head
another immersion in hot water / suggested
it might be well to use a stomach pump.
"Why, doctor 2" asked one of his friends.
perhaps he has taken some drug" re-
Piled.
'Impossible, doctor" said his wife. ."He
6oa L.. e.. 80 =,
no drug of any kind in the house."
''No brandy 2" 1 ventured the assertion
again.
"No doctor No spirits of any kind, not
drop of wine in this house." returned Mrs.
Harris in very offended tone.
/ was not the regular family physician,
and had been called in to meet the alarming
emergency, because my house happened to
be nearest to the dwelling of Mr. Harris
Feeling my position to be a difficult one,
suggested that the family physician had bet
ter be called.
''Bus the delay, doetorv' urged the
friends.
'No harm will result from it, be assured"
1 replied.
But my words did not assure them. How
ever as l was firm in my resolution not to do
anything more for the patient until DIR. Solly
came, they had to submit Iwished to make
a call of importance in the neighborhood,
and proposed going-to be back by the time
DIR. Solly arrived. but the friends of the sick
man would not suffer me to leave the room.
When DR.. Solly came, we conversed aside
for few moments, and 1 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 was still
no sign of approaching consciousness.
"Don't you think his head ought to be
shaved and blistered % asked the wife nnx-
iously.