Lay her flat upon her back, taking care that the head be as low as or lower than the body; throw open the windows; do not crowd around her;[[303]] unloosen her dress as quickly as possible; ascertain if she have been guilty of tight lacing, for fainting is sometimes produced by that reprehensible practice. Apply smelling-salts to her nostrils; if they be not at hand, burn a piece of rag under her nose; dash cold water upon her face; throw open the window; fan her; and do not, as is generally done, crowd round her, and thus prevent a free circulation of air.
As soon as she can swallow, give her either a draught of cold water, or a glass of wine, or a teaspoonful of sal-volatile in a wineglassful of water.
To prevent fainting for the future.—I would recommend early hours; country air and exercise; the stays, if worn at all, to be worn slack; attention to diet; avoidance of wine, beer, spirits, excitement, and fashionable amusements.
Sometimes the cause of a young lady fainting is either a disordered stomach or a constipated state of the bowels.
If the fainting have been caused by disordered stomach, it may be necessary to stop the supplies, and give the stomach, for a day or two, but little to do; a fast will frequently prevent the necessity of giving medicine. Of course, if the stomach be much disordered, it will be desirable to consult a medical man.
If your daughter’s fainting have originated from a costive state of the bowels (another frequent cause of fainting), I beg to refer you to a subsequent Conversation, in which I will give you a list of remedies for the prevention and the treatment of constipation.
A young lady’s fainting occasionally arises from debility—from downright weakness of the constitution; then the best remedies will be change of air to the coast, good nourishing diet, and the following strengthening mixture:
Take of—Muriated Tincture of Iron, one drachm and a half;
Tincture of Calumba, six drachms;
Distilled Water, seven ounces.