The Wadsworth dispatch. [volume] (Wadsworth, Nev.) 1892-1899, 1897-02-06
Vac Dispatch,
FusLissFo sxM,.wEIaLY
So 90 Per Annum,
IN CASE OF SYNCOpE.
MONETARY HEART PARALYSIS THAT
REQUIRES 6TiMuLART5.

Different Methods OK -.n.Nns eead How
They Should =! :.ii-a r".ctcr- y
Done Must Bc Done without Delay.
Which Is Dangerous.
1t is IN everyday occurrence 10 see
persons i'll a weak condition, just up
from a sickbed on under the influence
of some great emotion, grow suddenly
pale, lose consciousness and faint. a
more or less complete suspension of
breathing takes place, corresponding to
a check, or. at any rate, to a consider
able decrease in the circulation Of the
blood. This condition is called syncope,
and is in reality a momentary paralysis
of the heart. II immediate help is not
afforded, syncope may in some cases be
the cause of death.
Nothing is better known than the
different means to be used in case Of
syncope; the most important points arc
to facilitate the flow Of the blood, to
keep up what remains of the weakened
energy Ct the heart contraction and to
remove every obstacle to restoration of
the circulation of the blood.
From these points of view to place
the patient in a horizontal position is u
practice that is as efficacious as it is
haaitual. In this way not only is it
tasier for the heart to keep the mass Of
b}cul in motion, hut the head, which it
is best 10 put in a lower position than
the body, receives a larger supply of
bleed thln before, so that the lack Of
blood il the brain, the initial caase of
the synoope, is very largely conpen-
stated.
To carry still further this relative
congestion Of the brain, it has even been
suggested to stand snch patients liter
ally IN their head. and by following
this practice. as nearly as could be done,
Nelatou aud Campbell reported cases in
which patients were brought hack TO
consciousness who would Otherwise nave
infallibly succumbed.
1t il with a similar purpose that we
should make all haste to remove the
patients corset, to loosen collar and
crayat-in q word, to loosen all the
~clothinp-and to carry the patient into
the open air. In this wa many OBJ
~stacles to the circulation of the blood
are removed, but the special advantage
in tho practice is that the expansion of
the lungs becomes less impeded and
easier,
If, however. in spite of these meas
ures CT relief, the syncope continues, we
must have cou to remedies of an
other kind, numerous and varied in ia
ture, hut all designed to bring back and
stimulate tho contraction Of the heart
muscle.
Tic return Of general consciousness
should be stimulated by sudden and vio-
lent shaking of the patient. by dash
ing cold water on the face and by rub
bling the skin with alcohol or vinegar.
These are best applied to the temples,
lips or palms Of the hands. 1t is also
well to rub the hands and feet, limbs
and even tho entire surface Of the body
in an energetic manner with a hair
glove or any other rough tissue with
which any stimulating lotion that may
be at hand can be applied, such as BRAN
dy or eau de cologne.
The special senses should also be
stimulated. The patient should be made
to breathe any strongly smelling stuff
that may be at hand-sal volatile, vim
egar, acctio acid or ammonia. By these
different means. which are more or less
energetic and almost always ef1ea-
cious, the stimulants Of the heart con-
fractions bring back its beats, while the
resumption Of circulation carries once
more to the brain the blood necessary
for its working.
If these different means are still in
sufficient, artificial respiration should
be resorted to without delay. The pa
tient should be placed or the back, the
head as low as possible, turned 10 one
side and the mouth wide open. The OPP
orator stands at the side of the bead,
seizes the two elbows firmly and draws
them as far upward and away from the
body as possible, thereby dilating the
chest and allowing the air to enter tho
lungs.
An assistant. placed by the patients
legs, rests both hands OH the sides Of
the base of tho chest and brings pres
sure to bear Oh it at the very moment
when the patients elbows are being
brought back to the sides again after
having been raised TO q maximum. In
a word, the assistant acts in such a way
as to help 10 drive out the air that has
been sent into tho lungs by the extern
sion Of tho arms. Two skillful opera
tors can in this way, by working well
together, carry GA al almost normal de-
gree of breathing.
It is advisable not to go too quickly,