The Wilmingtonian., 1888-02-18
Periscvpe.

SUDDEN DEATH FROM NIGHTMARES SOME REFLEo-
| TIoNs ON THE CAUSE, TREATMENT, AND PRE-
YENTIoN.
| DR.. Matthew Turner thus writes in the
Alabana Medical and Surgical Journal:
S. B. c., aged thirty five years; male;
white; married. Native of Alabama. BY |
occupation farmer.
The subject of this sketch was young
man in full health, of fsteady habits, used no
narcotics or stmulants, and took great
deal of outdoor exercise; was seldom tail |
ing" and, except mild attack Of dysen-
terry and an occasional chill during the sum-
mer, was never sick. He was one of a pair
of twins, the stouter and more handsome OF
the two, and was a perfect type of a healthy
man in mind and body. He was of nervous
temperament.
About the latter part of August, Mr.. Q.
was surveying some land on the river for the
purpose Of settling boundary line between
him and some neghbors, when he discovered,
near the line, mine of some mineral, sup
posed to be of immense value, and, like most
men under such circumstances, saw visions
of fabulous wealth almost within his grasp.
Fearing difficulty about the division, he
spent the next day in visiting parties Inter
ested, and underwent great deal of fatigue
and proportionate amount of anxiety.
About D. M, he held an interview with the
last party concerned, and greatly to his re-
lief found no obstacle in his way to a big
fortune--the land was his, and no one was
disposed TO dispute his title.
Instead of remaining that night as he ex-
! peeted, from home, he was 80 much elated at
, his success that he rode home, ten miles, to
, communicate his good fortune to his family,
t who shared in his anxiety.
On reaching home, his wife, not expecting
him at that hour, had retired and made no
:, provision for his supper, but told him there
+ we're 6 III cold dishes in the closet. Oi
these he made hearty meal, having gone
f without his dinner, and, after talking ovei
the events of the day with his wife, still un-
der great excitement, he retired.
y This was about 80 p. M, and about
! thiIty-six hours from the time the excite
s ment commenced about the mine. About 5
i, o'clock the next morning his wife was awak.
ened by his distressed groauing, and, sup
posing that h. was suffering from might
IL mare" shook him aud a oused him sufh.
J. ciently to cause him to move himself in bed,
j. and the groaning ceased, and he seemed to
;. drop into quiet slumber.
Knowing that her husband had been un
usually excited and iatigued, his wife quietly
N got out of bed and adjusted the bed eli thi 6
1f wi b the hope that he m ght have q itt
+ uap while she was preparing breakfast
= Passing through the room in about hal
hour she noticed one foot c"v red, an I, il
" readjusting the covering, perceived that th'
foot was very cold. 6ere she discovered he
to fatal mistake. He was dead, and perhap
III breathed his last when she first left him
- rs W. s
IN her ff1rls to arouse him at that time, sh
Il would IN all probabl have been success
% full, and he perhaps would have laughed a
of the rc llections of dreadful dream, an,
nt never have realized how near the portals o
of tern ty he I'd been.
Now, what are the cLief factors in might
mare?' Iu rmnamhu ism we have the
IN power of motion unimpaired, but memor,
b. and Judgement seem entirely suspended. Il
,d 'u ghtmare" sensation and memery are act
:, i've, but the power of motion is lost Hence
we would infer that the k'nesodic area O
~ the med lila oblongata is paralyzed, and tina
N, the patient dias from asphyxia or heart-fail
he ure.
n We are all familiar with the sympath
existing between the stomach and the hear
as we'll as the physical disturbances resultin
us from indigestion. Tne child who habituall
~ screams out at night from frightful dream
be will often, when put to bed hungry, witt
te only IA cracker and clp of tea, sleep sound
y without any terrors whereas, if allowe
= to fill tho stomach with heavy, iudigestb bl
oe food, he will not only dream, but may hav,
convulsions added to the regular matinee
We know that fatal syncope has bee
brought about by taking heavy dranght
cold water, and that the same result ma
ensue frnm purely emotional causes.
d, 1t is not so much the object of this pap,
OIL to discuss the causes and the ''modus ope
he andi' in these cases. as to call the attentio
see of the profession to the fact THAI, notwiil
Ii standing they are generally regarded as tri
i e lal and attribute to an imprudent supp
th- ETC., they do sometime, become serious, ar
lea terminate fatally.
gh As preventive measnre, the gener
10 health sh uld be looked after, and especial
faI Indigestion should receive our first attentio
too A slap, rude shake, or douche of cold wat
SIS in the face, will usually arouse the conscou
er- ness Of the patient and, under the efforts
100 the will, respiration and circulation are /
stored.
Try Iwou,d suggest that such subjects shou
yer not sleep alone, but always in hearing
nd some friend or attendant, who will be on ii
ing que giDe for the nrst manifestations Of an a
act ack, and apply the means of restoratit
Immediately and etfectually.
Of Ammonia, belladonna, digitalis et id om
i've genus, hypoderwieally or otherwise, won
in naturally suggest themselves to the min
re- but in the usual course Of the attack Il
its physician would seldom be in at the rig
20 Al