Diseases > Domestic medicine

434 buchan’s
all other places of public resort, be large and well
ventilated ; and let the weak and delicate avoid such
places, particularly in warm seasons.
A person who faints, in such a situation, ought
immediately to be carried into the open air; his
temples should be rubbed with strong vinegar or
brandy, and volatile spirits of salts held to his nose.
He should be laid upon his back with his head low,
and have a little wine, or some other cordial, as
soon as he is able to swallow it, poured into his
mouth. If the person has been subject to hysteric
fits, castor or asafoelida should be applied to the
nose, or burnt feathers, horn, or leather, &c.
When fainting fits proceed from mere weakness or
exhaustion, which is often the case after great fatigue,
long fasting, loss of blood, or the like, the patient
must be supported with generous cordials, as jellies,
wines, spirituous liquors, &c. These, however, must
be given at first in very small quantities, and in¬
creased gradually as the patient is able to bear them.
He ought to be allowed to lie quite still and easy
upon his back, with his head low, and should have
fresh air admitted into his chamber. His food
should consist of nourishing broths, sago-gruel with
wine, new milk, and other things of a light and
cordial nature. These things are to be given out of
the fit. All that can be done in the fit is, to let him
smell to a bottle of Hungary-water, eau de lace, or
spirits of hartshorn, and to rub his temples with
warm brandy, or to lay a compress dipped in it to
the pit of the stomach.
In fainting fits that proceed from fear, grief, or
other violent passions or affections of the mind, the
patient must be very cautiously managed. He
should be suffered to remain at rest, and only made
to smell to some vinegar. After he is come to himself