Advice to the people in general, with regard to their health

by S. A. D. Tissot

Of some Cases which require immediate Assistance; such as Swoonings; Hæmorrhages, or involuntary Loss of Blood; Convulsion Fitts, and Suffocations; the sudden Effects of great Fear; of Disorders caused by noxious Vapours; of Poisons, and of acute Pains.

Of Swoonings.

Sect. 494.

here are many Degrees of Swooning, or fainting away: the slightest is that in which the Patient constantly perceives and understands, yet without the Power of speaking. This is called a Fainting, which happens very often to vapourish Persons, and without any remarkable Alteration of the Pulse.

If the Patient entirely loses Sensation, or Feeling, and Understanding, with a very considerable Sinking of the Pulse, this is called a Syncopè, and is the second Degree of Swooning.

But if this Syncopè is so violent, that the Pulse seems totally extinguished; without any discernible Breathing; with a manifest Coldness of the whole Body; and a wanly livid Countenance, it constitutes a third and last Degree, which is the true Image of Death, that in Effect sometimes attends it, and it is called an Asphixy, which may signify a total Resolution.

Swoonings result from many different Causes, of which I shall only enumerate the principal; and these are, 1, Too large a Quantity of Blood. 2, A Defect or insufficient Proportion of it, and a general Weakness. 3, A Load at and violent Disorders of the Stomach. 4, Nervous Maladies. 5, The Passions; and, 6, some Kinds of Diseases.

Of Swoonings occasioned by Excess of Blood.

§ 495. An excessive Quantity of Blood is frequently a Cause of Swooning; and it may be inferred that it is owing to this Cause, when it attacks sanguine, hearty and robust Persons; and more especially when it attacks them, after being combined with any additional or supervening Cause, that suddenly increased the Motion of the Blood; such as heating Meats or Drinks, Wine, spirituous Liquors: smaller Drinks, if taken very hot and plentifully, such as Coffee, Indian Tea, Bawm Tea and the like; a long Exposure to the hot Sun, or being detained in a very hot Place; much and violent Exercise; an over intense and assiduous Study or Application, or some excessive Passion.