Diseases > Domestic medicine

strained. They are generally the effect of mere
weakness or exhaustion. Dr. Engleman relates the
case of a woman “ in childbed, who, after being
happily delivered, suddenly fainted, and lay upwards
of a quarter of an hour apparently dead. A physician
was sent for; her own maid, in the mean while,
being out of patience at his delay, attempted to
assist her herself, and extending herself upon her
mistress, applied her mouth to her’s, blew in as much
breath as she possibly could, and in a very short
time the exhausted woman awaked as out of a pro¬
found sleep; when proper things being given her,
she soon recovered.
“ The maid being asked how she came to think of
this expedient, said she had seen it practised at
Altenburgh, by midwives, upon children with the
happiest effect.”
We mention this case chiefly that other midwives
may be induced to follow so laudable an example.
Many children are born without any signs of life, and
others expire soon after the birth, who might, without
all doubt, by proper care, be restored to life.
From whatever cause fainting fits proceed, fresh
air is always of the greatest importance to the patient.
By not attending to this circumstance, people often
kill their friends while they are endeavouring to save
them. Alarmed at the patient’s situation, they call
in a crowd of people to his assistance, or perhaps to
witness his exit, whose breathing exhausts the air,
and increases the danger. There is not the least
doubt but this practice, which is very common among
the lower sort of people, often proves fatal, especially
to the delicate, and such persons as fall into fainting
fits from mere exhaustion, or the violence of some
disease. No more persons ought ever to be admitted
into the room where a patient lies in a swoon, than