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

by S. A. D. Tissot

Of Swoonings occasioned by the Passions.

§ 504. There have been some Instances of Persons dying within a Moment, through excessive Joy. But such Instances are so very rare and sudden, that Assistance has seldom been sought for on this Occasion. The Case is otherwise with Respect to those produced from Rage, Vexation, and Dread or Horror. I shall treat in a separate Article of those resulting from great Fear; and shall briefly consider here such as ensue from Rage, and vehement Grief or Disappointment.

§ 505. Excessive Rage and violent Affliction are sometimes fatal in the Twinkling of an Eye; though they oftener terminate in fainting only. Excessive Grief or Chagrine is especially accompanied with this Consequence; and it is very common to see Persons thus affected, sink into successive Faintings for several Hours. It is plainly obvious that very little Assistance can be given in such Cases: it is proper, however, they should smell to strong Vinegar; and frequently take a few Cups of some hot and temperately cordial Drink, such as Bawm Tea, or Lemonade with a little Orange or Lemon-peel.

The calming asswaging Cordial, that has seemed the most efficacious to me, is one small Coffee Spoonful of a Mixture of three Parts of the Mineral Anodyne Liquor of Hoffman, [¹⁰⁶] and one Part of the spirituous Tincture of Amber, which should be swallowed in a Spoonful of Water; taking after it a few Cups of such Drinks as I shall presently direct.

It is not to be supposed that Swoonings or Faintings, from excessive Passions, can be cured by Nourishment. The physical State or Condition, into which vehement Grief throws the Body, is that, of all others, in which Nourishment would be most injurious to it: and as long as the Vehemence of the Affliction endures, the Sufferer should take nothing but some Spoonfuls of Soup or Broth, or a few Morsels of some light Meat roasted.

§ 506. When Wrath or Rage has risen to so high a Pitch, that the human Machine, the Body, entirely exhausted, as it were, by that violent Effort, sinks down at once into excessive Relaxation, a Fainting sometimes succeeds, and even the most perilous Degree of it, a Syncopè.

It is sufficient, or rather the most that can be done here, to let the Patient be perfectly still a while in this State; only making him smell to some Vinegar. But when he is come to himself, he should drink plentifully of hot Lemonade, and take one or more of the Glysters [Nº. 5].

Sometimes there remain in these Cases Sicknesses at Stomach, Reachings to vomit, a Bitterness in the Mouth, and some vertiginous Symptoms which seem to require a Vomit. But such a Medicine must be very carefully avoided, since it may be attended with the most fatal Consequence; and Lemonade with Glysters generally and gradually remove these Swoonings. If the Nausea and Sickness at Stomach continue, the utmost Medicine we should allow besides, would be that of [Nº. 23], or a few Doses of [Nº. 24].

Of symptomatical Swoonings, or such, as happen in the Progress of other Diseases.

§ 507. Swoonings, which supervene in the Course of other Diseases, never afford a favourable Prognostic; as they denote Weakness, and Weakness is an Obstacle to Recovery.