Evening journal., 1897-03-18
IN CASE OF SYNCOPE.
MoMENTARY HEART PARALYSIS THAT
REQUIRES sTi.dULANTs.

W AANH a" -retH l'-"NtHe
1t is an everyday occurrence to see
persons in a weak condition, just up
from eickbed or uader the influence
Of some great emotion, grow suddenly
pale, lose consciousness ana faint. A
more or less complete suspension of
breathing takes place, corresponding 10
a check, or, at any rate to consider
able decrease in the circulation Of the
blood This condition is called syncope,
and is in reality momentary paralysis
of the heart. If 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; tho most important points are
to facilitate the flow Of the blood, to
keep up what remains Of the weakened
energy Of 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 horizontal position is
practice that is as oificacious as it is
habitual In this way not only is it
easier for tho heart to keep the mass Of
blood in motion, but the head, which it
is best to put in lower position than
the body, receives a larger supply Of
blood than before, so that the lack Of
blood in the brain, the initial cause Of
the syncope, is very largely compen-
stated.
To carry still further this relative
! congestion Of the brain, it has even been
suggested to stand such patients liter
ally on their head, and by following
this practice, as nearly as could be done,
Nelaton and Campbell reported cases in
which patients were brought back to
consciousness who would otherwise have
infallibly succumbed.
1t is with a similar purpose that We
should make all haste to remove the
patients corset, to loosen collar and
cravat-in "a word, to loosen all tho
clothing-and to carry the patient into
the open air In this way many OBJ
stacles to the circulation Of the blood
are removed, but the special advantage
in the practice is that the expansion of
tho lungs becomes less impeded and
easier
If, however. in spite Of these meas
ures Of relief the syncope continues, we
must have recourse to remedies of an
other kind, numerous and varied in ma
ture, but all designed to bring back and
stimulate tho contraction Of the heart
: muscle.
The return Of general consciousness IS
should be stimulated by sudden and vio-
lent shaking OF the patient by dash
ing cold water OH tho face and by rub
birg tho skin with alcohol or vinegar
4 These are best applied to the temples,
Z bps or palms Of the hands II is also
well to rub tho hands and feet limbs
e and even tho entire surface Of the body
4 in an energetic manner with hun
= glove or any other rough tissue Nitl
which any stimulating lotion that may
be at hand can bo applied, such as bran'
/ dy or eau do cologne.
The special senses should also be
stimulated. The patient should be made
10 breathe any strongly smelling stuff
d that may be Gt hand-sal volatile, vim
b egar, acctic acid Cr ammonia. By thes'
s different means, which are more or less
n energetic and almost always eflica
cious, tho stimulauts Of the heart con
fractions bring back its beats, while th'
. resumption Of circulation carries oncl
more TO the brain the blood necessary
n for its working.
2. If these different means arc still in
sufficient, Artificial respiration shoul'
S be resorted TO without delay The pa
d ticnt should be placed on the back thi
head as low as possible, turned TO ON
u side and tho mouth wide open. The op
! orator stands at The side cf the head
- seizas tho two elbows firmly ana draw
" them as far upward and away from th
Al body as possible, thereby dilating th
II chest ana allowing the air to enter th'
lGags.
An assistant, placed by tho patient
y legs, rests both hands ON the sides @
the base Of tho chest and brings pres
! suro to bear on it at tho very momen
+ when the patients elbows are bein
N brought back TO the sides again afte
a. having been raised to a maximum.
s. q word, tho assistant acts in such a wa
Of rs to help 20 drive cut tho air that ha
{, been sent into tho lungs by the exter
10 sion Of tho arms. Two skillful opcri
O. tors can in t,is way, 10y working we
u, together carry on an almost normal d'
y gree Of breathing
: 1t is advisable not to so too quiclll!
or as the average human being does n'
lr breathe more than about l6 timos
n. minute.
n If in one Cr two minutes the syncoI
IS has not come to an ord, there is no L!
D relying any longer on this measure, al
fd il viii be best TO resort 60 rhythmic
ne fractions Of the tongue according
- the method Of II. Lahorde Of Pari
. This meihcd, which is constantly 81
>" ing the most unhored for results
n: cases Of asphyxia, consists IN openiI
the PATIENTS mouth. in seiging Il
tongue with the fingers and piece
linen and in drawing it forward Wi
I'd. strong rhythmioal fractions, slowly al
W. methodically, l5 90 rs times minut
be The return TO consciousness is usual
announced by the utterance of a lou
- deem and lOno QynirafiOn