The Arkansaw traveler., 1889-05-04
Painting. Harpor'n BAxar.

than men do, and young women than older ones. Yet old women do faint, and fainting fit is more dangerous with them than with the others; and even strong men now and then suc- cumb to the same weakness. Of course where there is disease of the heart, occasioning the phenomena of fAinting, 1t has no respect of age or sex or person. In cases of what is known as fatty degeneration of the heart, or as a result of profuse hemorrhAge, faintiDg becomes invested with great danger, and the event may even be fatal, the subject never coming out of the state of syncope. But in most in- stances fainting is a merely functional affair, implying nothing serious be- yond the moment in fact being more of 6 relief than otherwise, and more injurious-by means of the fright 1t gives them-to others than it is to the patient.
 The act of fainting may be said to be usually of nervous origin-horror, fear, joy, the sight of blood or of any thing revolting, the receipt of nause- ating odors, experience of foul air, or sudden shocks, all serving to produce loss of sensibility; or 1t may be occa- stoned by trouble of the stomach, by extremes of heat or cold, or by long and excessive pain. Of course there are various degrees of fainting, some people merely seeing the world turn black and vanish while retaining con- sciousness, and others losing them- selves completely, and being to all wis., ible intent and purposes as dead as they ever will be. In some the heart will beat, perceptibly, if slightly, and the breath will be present futter- ingly; in others there will be no pulse to be found, and no breath to be de- tected and while with some the affair may be of moments, in others 1t may be of hours; usually, however, mo- ments determine it..
 In all cases the face is pinched and pale; the heart refusing blood both to the brain and to the surface of the body leaves the system without con- sciousness, the countenance bloodless and the skin cold. The remedies should be immediate, although under favorable circumstances nature herself assumes remedial duty. The patient should at once be laid fiat upon the back, the head lower than the rest of the body, in order to restore circula- tion by gravity indeed, many of those subject to fainting, upon feeling the first symptoms, allow themselves to sink in that position; for if they do not they have learned that nature will usually throw them into it un- asked, and perhaps hurt them in doing so, unless she be barred by a straight backed seat out of which sliding is impossible, or by bracipg and up- holding crowd. The next thing to be done is to loosen all the clothes, so that the heart and the lungs may have free play. Following this, plenty of fresh air should be allowed the pa tient, and 6 counter shock should be administered in the shape of 8 dash of cold water and the vapor of some pun gent salt.
 These simple measures will gener- ally give complete resuscitation, but If they do not, there should be no time lost in bringing physician to the res- cue. Young and sentimental girls often have an idea that there is sOme- thing peculiarly romantic and attract i've attaching to them when fainting. Never was there a greater mistake. Could they once see themselves, pallid and pinched and gasping, they would never wish any one for whose admira- Aiar. Ahnrr nawoG Aa hnuo AhaA