Bleeding in any form is seldom required in these cases, and
is never safe in non-professional hands. It is very easy, under
circumstances of alarm and excitement, to do too much. The
after effects of an apoplectic seizure require very judicious
management; and here, again, we would warn the reader against
expecting too much from mere medical means, and to be care-
ful not by over-anxiety for stimulation, to accelerate a danger-
ous reaction. As the insensibility passes off, and the patient
wakes up to what is passing around him (supposing that he
has been unconscious), great care must be taken to secure
quietness and rest. As little conversation as possible should be
carried on; the room should be well aired and moderately
lighted. Complete rest of body and mind are essential to
recovery. As the limbs recover their -muscular power, they
must be carefully and only gradually brought into use. Caution
must also be exercised in the administration of food of a light
and nutritious character. The muscles of the throat having
probably suffered in the attack, will require time to resume
their power, and hence there will be danger of choking if care
be not taken. The food must be light and easy of digestion,
I
MEDICINAL. 595
since the functions of the stomach will also be impaired, and,
if too solid or indigestible food be given, it may cause vomit-
ing and serious disturbance. Should the pulse be feeble, a little
brandy or wine may be allowed to be taken with light food.
All this precaution is required to guard against inflammation
of the brain, which may follow on reaction indicated by
increased rapidity of pulse, heat of skin, thirst, and headache.
Should the bowels be costive, some simple saline purgative,
such as Epsom salts or Seidlitz powder, should be taken. If
there be persistent headache, blistering behind the neck will
relieve it. If these means fail to subdue the inflammatory and
febrile symptoms, the case must be treated as one of inflam-
mation of the brain. Paralysis, or permanent loss of power on
one side of the body, or of some muscles or portion of the sur-
face on one side, is not unfrequently left after an apoplectic
attack. (See Paralysis.)
Asthma. — This is sometimes called " Spasmodic Bronchi-
tis," and consists of a sudden attack of tightness across the
chest, with difficulty of breathing, of a most urgent and dis-
tressing kind — so much so, that in the course of less than an
hour immediate suffocation seeriij, to be impending. The
patient is fighting and strur^gling for very life, gasping for air,
speech nearly impracticable, the eye protruding, the counten-
ance anxious, flushed, or of a blue discoloration. The skin
becomes bedewed with cold clammy sweat, the hands and fingers
blue; altogether forming as distressing a scene as can be
witnessed, but happily not one that is often fatal, as it passes
off generally with a restoration of the bronchial secretion which
has been suspended. This favorable occurrence varies in its
advent. The paroxysm, however, seldom lasts more than a few
hours at the utmost, but the bronchitis which follows lasts
sometimes for several days. The attack is liable to return at
uncertain periods.
Page 207
Presented as published in 1883. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
Bleeding in any form is seldom required in these cases, and is never safe in non-professional hands. It is very easy, under circumstances of alarm and excitement, to do too much. The after effects of an apoplectic seizure require very judicious management; and here, again, we would warn the reader against expecting too much from mere medical means, and to be careful not by over-anxiety for stimulation, to accelerate a dangerous reaction. As the insensibility passes off, and the patient wakes up to what is passing around him (supposing that he has been unconscious), great care must be taken to secure quietness and rest. As little conversation as possible should be carried on; the room should be well aired and moderately lighted. Complete rest of body and mind are essential to recovery. As the limbs recover their -muscular power, they must be carefully and only gradually brought into use. Caution must also be exercised in the administration of food of a light and nutritious character. The muscles of the throat having probably suffered in the attack, will require time to resume their power, and hence there will be danger of choking if care be not taken. The food must be light and easy of digestion,
since the functions of the stomach will also be impaired, and, if too solid or indigestible food be given, it may cause vomiting and serious disturbance. Should the pulse be feeble, a little brandy or wine may be allowed to be taken with light food. All this precaution is required to guard against inflammation of the brain, which may follow on reaction indicated by increased rapidity of pulse, heat of skin, thirst, and headache. Should the bowels be costive, some simple saline purgative, such as Epsom salts or Seidlitz powder, should be taken. If there be persistent headache, blistering behind the neck will relieve it. If these means fail to subdue the inflammatory and febrile symptoms, the case must be treated as one of inflammation of the brain. Paralysis, or permanent loss of power on one side of the body, or of some muscles or portion of the surface on one side, is not unfrequently left after an apoplectic attack. (See Paralysis.)
Asthma. — This is sometimes called " Spasmodic Bronchitis," and consists of a sudden attack of tightness across the chest, with difficulty of breathing, of a most urgent and distressing kind — so much so, that in the course of less than an hour immediate suffocation seems to be impending. The patient is fighting and struggling for very life, gasping for air, speech nearly impracticable, the eye protruding, the countenance anxious, flushed, or of a blue discoloration. The skin becomes bedewed with cold clammy sweat, the hands and fingers blue; altogether forming as distressing a scene as can be witnessed, but happily not one that is often fatal, as it passes off generally with a restoration of the bronchial secretion which has been suspended. This favorable occurrence varies in its advent. The paroxysm, however, seldom lasts more than a few hours at the utmost, but the bronchitis which follows lasts sometimes for several days. The attack is liable to return at uncertain periods.