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Fainting.Fainting, swooning, or, as it is technically called, syncope, is the result of a sudden weakness in the beating of the heart. At times, indeed, the heart actually ceases to beat for a moment. As a result, the blood is no longer propelled throughout the body, and the arrest of its flow to the brain results in a cessation of the functions of this organ. Prominent among these functions is, of course, consciousness ; hence fainting consists, primarily, in a loss of consciousness from weakness of the heart. The brain has, however, several duties to perform in regulating the different functions of the body, in addition to its work in carrying on mental operations. One of these functions, which depends directly upon a stimulus derived from the brain, is breathing. Hence whenever the brain ceases to act for a moment, the breathing stops. This constitutes another prominent feature of fainting. Fainting is, therefore, essentially the beginning of death, since both the circulation of the blood and the breathing are arrested. In some cases, indeed, death ensues, since these functions are not resumed. In the majority of cases, however, the beating of the heart commences after a few seconds or a few minutes. The rush of blood through the brain revives this organ, and sets in motion again the apparatus which is regulated by the brain ; the breathing begins ; the consciousness returns ; the individual M comes to. " Fainting may occur from any cause which interferes with the action of the heart. Thus a violent emotion may arrest the contraction of the heart; over-exertion of the body may accomplish the same result. Loss of blood is also a frequent cause ; blows in the region of the heart, on " the pit of the stomach,'' are efficient causes ; general debility, such as results from lack of food, may cause fainting. Symptoms.- Fainting is so familiar to all that detailed description is unnecessary. The face becomes suddenly pale and assumes even a ghastly hue ; the breathing becomes rapid and shallow; the pupils of the eyes increase in size ; the individual becomes dizzy and weak, so that he is no longer able to stand erect, and falls to the ground unless supported. The sufferer describes his sensations as a feeling as if everything were " swimming around. " This is usually the last thing that he remembers. The important point with reference to fainting consists in the recognition of this condition as distinguished from others in which the individual loses consciousness. For there are several other bodily states which are accompanied by sudden loss of consciousness during which the patient falls. The most frequent and important of these are epilepsy, hysteria and apoplexy. A detailed description for distinguishing between these affections has been already given in the chapters devoted to these diseases ; it will suffice to mention here a few prominent points which characterize these various affections. In epilepsy the patient usually screams at the moment of falling, and his body becomes rigid, and a few moments afterward distorted by violent convulsions. He foams at the mouth, and his face assumes a livid hue. In hysteria there is never a complete lack of consciousness ; the patient does not exhibit the same ghastly pallor and muscular weakness characteristic of fainting. Furthermore, she usually manages to have a few convulsions before recovering. In apoplexy the individual breathes loudly and deeply, the lips are puffed out during respiration, the pupils are usually contracted to a very small size, and the pulse is full and strong. In most cases the circumstances surrounding the individual point with sufficient clearness to the nature of the difficulty. Treatment*-The most important point in the treatment of a fainting person is to place the patient flat upon his back, without a pillow. Indeed we may sometimes to advantage lower the head, and even hold the individual in such a posture that the body and legs shall be on a higher level than the head. The object of this position is, of course, to get as much blood to the brain as possible ; it is, indeed, merely an attempt to secure by the force of gravity the effect which is ordinarily accomplished by the contraction of the heart. In most cases the patient revives in a few moments if allowed to lie quietly upon the floor or upon a bed, and be permitted to breathe plenty of fresh air. Care should be taken to prevent bystanders from crowding around the fainting person ; windows or doors should be opened, so that air may be admitted. The clothing should be loosened around the neck and chest. Cold water may be dashed upon the face, or upon the breast if this be bare. A bottle of hartshorn may be held about three or four inches from the nostrils, so that its vapor is taken into the lungs. These measures almost invariably restore the individual if the condition be merely that of fainting from ordinary causes; if they be inefficient, an ounce of whisky or brandy may be mixed with the same quantity of warm water and injected into the rectum. After the patient shows signs of returning consciousness, he should not be permitted to rise nor even to raise the head from the bed; a low pillow may be put under the head for comfort. But first, if you want to come back to this web site again, just add it to your bookmarks or favorites now! Then you'll find it easy! Also, please consider sharing our helpful website with your online friends.
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