We have seen already that there is more
than one kind of weakness from disease.
There may be oppression, as in the early
stage of almost any acute disorder ; or de-
pression (prostration) from a great shock,
such as a railroad accident, crushing a limb,
or from the lowering influence of typhus or
typhoid fever; or exhaiistion, such as will
be produced by a large hemorrhage, an at-
tack of cholera morbus, or a severe disease
of some length of continuance.
For oppression, in a person of good
constitution and strength, unloading the
system is needed — b}'' sweating, purging,
and action of the kidneys.
For depression, support is called for.
Experience indicates that alcoholic stimula-
tion is, in sudden or great prostration from
any cause, the most efl"ectual. It niay en-
able the system to tide over the time of
weakness and danger, so that all will go on
well again ; whereas, without it, the patient
may sink and die.
Alcoholic stimulation is ver}^ often
abused. It is employed when there is no
occasion for it, and when required it is fre-
quently too great in amount. Every little
feeling of weakness does not properly call for
a glass of wine or whiskey ; far from it.
Fainting is better treated by fresh air, as
much as possible ; dashing or sprinkling
with cold water on the face, and ammonia.
Smelling salts (carbonate of ammonium)
put, for a moment at a time, under the nos-
trils, will hasten recovery from a faint.
When swallowing is possible, twenty or
thirty drops of the aromatic spirit of ammonia
may be taken in a wineglass ful of water.
But when a person is almost dead from
loss of blood, or an extensive burn, or the
shock of a railroad accident, with white
lips, shrunken cheeks, cold skin, and rapid,
thready pulse, we need to stimulate with
alcohol, but not too much. A teaspoonful
of whiskey will be enough, in many in
stances, repeated in ten or fifteen minutes,
if the patient does not show reaction. A
tablespoonful will be a large enough dose at
one draught in any case. More will do no
better towards stimulation, and the after
effect will be worse. Always, moreover,
such stimulation must be withheld as soon
as the depression has passed away, and then
the less alcohol he has had put -into his sys-
tem the better.
General Debility.
After an acute disease with fever — as
scarlet fever, measles, typhoid fever, etc. — :
convalescence is accompanied by more or less
debility. But when everything goes well,
appetite is then strong, and the losses of the
system are made up b}^ the appropriation of
food. A person who was healthy before
such an attack will commonly need no help
from medicines to " build up " again.
499
36
THE FAMILY DOCTOR
Running down in strength, however,
with or without acute disease, and often
without an}'- fixed disorder of any great
organ, is not uncommon, from various
causes. Too severe, monotonous, and long-
continued labor, out of proportion to one's
strength ; worry, particularly when it pre-
vents refreshing sleep ; living in a close air,
without change and exercise ; these are
some of the conditions in which people are
apt to get down " below par " in strength.
Povei^ty of blood {ancsmid) is generally
present in such cases. So is loss of appetite
and digestive power ; and nervous depr-es-
sio7i. These are the three elements of ordi-
nary continued debility.
Treatment for Debility.
Page 164
Presented as published in 1901. 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
We have seen already that there is more than one kind of weakness from disease. There may be oppression, as in the early stage of almost any acute disorder ; or depression (prostration) from a great shock, such as a railroad accident, crushing a limb, or from the lowering influence of typhus or typhoid fever; or exhaustion, such as will be produced by a large hemorrhage, an attack of cholera morbus, or a severe disease of some length of continuance.
For oppression, in a person of good constitution and strength, unloading the system is needed — by sweating, purging, and action of the kidneys..
For depression, support is called for. Experience indicates that alcoholic stimulation is, in sudden or great prostration from any cause, the most effectual. It may enable the system to tide over the time of weakness and danger, so that all will go on well again; whereas, without it, the patient may sink and die.
Alcoholic stimulation is very often abused. It is employed when there is no occasion for it, and when required it is frequently too great in amount. Every little feeling of weakness does not properly call for a glass of wine or whiskey ; far from it. Fainting is better treated by fresh air, as much as possible ; dashing or sprinkling with cold water on the face, and ammonia. Smelling salts (carbonate of ammonium) put, for a moment at a time, under the nostrils, will hasten recovery from a faint. When swallowing is possible, twenty or thirty drops of the aromatic spirit of ammonia may be taken in a wineglass of water.
But when a person is almost dead from loss of blood, or an extensive burn, or the shock of a railroad accident, with white lips, shrunken cheeks, cold skin, and rapid, thready pulse, we need to stimulate with alcohol, but not too much. A teaspoonful of whiskey will be enough, in many in stances, repeated in ten or fifteen minutes, if the patient does not show reaction. A tablespoonful will be a large enough dose at one draught in any case. More will do no better towards stimulation, and the after effect will be worse. Always, moreover, such stimulation must be withheld as soon as the depression has passed away, and then the less alcohol he has had put into his system the better.
General Debility.
After an acute disease with fever — as scarlet fever, measles, typhoid fever, etc. — convalescence is accompanied by more or less debility. But when everything goes well, appetite is then strong, and the losses of the system are made up by the appropriation of food. A person who was healthy before such an attack will commonly need no help from medicines to " build up " again.
Running down in strength, however, with or without acute disease, and often without any fixed disorder of any great organ, is not uncommon, from various causes. Too severe, monotonous, and longcontinued labor, out of proportion to one's strength ; worry, particularly when it prevents refreshing sleep ; living in a close air, without change and exercise ; these are some of the conditions in which people are apt to get down " below par " in strength.
Poverty of blood (anaemia) is generally present in such cases. So is loss of appetite and digestive power ; and nervous depression. These are the three elements of ordinary continued debility.
Treatment for Debility.