CHAP. XIV. Of Swooning.
SWooning is a sodain & pertinacious defect of all the powers, but especially the vital; in this,* 1.1 the Patients lie without motion and sense, so that the Ancients thought that it differed from Death only in continuance of time. The cause of swoon ng,* 1.2 which happens to those that are wounded, is Bleeding, which causeth a dissipation of the Spirits: or Fear, which causeth a so∣dain and joynt retirement of the spirits to the Heart. Whence follows an intermission of the pro∣per duty, as also of the rest of the faculties, whilest they being thus troubled, are at a stand. Also Swooning happens by a putrid and venenate vapour, carryed to the heart by the Arteries, and to the Brain by the nerves; by which you may gather, that all swooning happens by three causes. The first is, by dissipation of the spirits and native heat, as in great bleeding. And then by the oppres∣sion of these spirits by obstruction, or compression, as in fear, or tumult; for thus the spirits fly back hastily from the surface and habit of the body, unto the heart and center. Lastly, by cor∣ruption, as in bodies filled with humors, and in poysonous wounds. The signs of swooning are paleness, a dewy and sodain sweat arising, the failing of the pulse, a sodain falling of the body upon the ground without sense and motion, a coldness possessing the whole body, so that the Pa∣tient may seem rather dead, than alive. For many of these who fall into a swoon die, unless they have present help.
Therefore you shall help them, if when they are ready to fall, you sprinkle much cold water in their face, if that the swooning happen by dissipation of the spirits;* 1.3 or if they shall be set with their faces upwards, upon a bed, or on the ground, as gently as may be; and if you give them bread dipt in wine to hold and chew in their mouths. But if it be caused by a putrid vapour and poysonous air, you shall give them a little Mithridate or Treacle in Aqua vitae with a Spoon, as I usually do to those which have the Plague, or any part affected with a Gangrene, or Spacel.* 1.4 But if the Patients cannot be raised out of their swoons, by reason of the pertinacious oppression and compression of the spirits about the heart, you must give them all such things as have power to dif∣fuse, call forth, and resuscitate the spirits, such as are, strong Wines to drink,* 1.5 sweet perfumes to smell: You must call them by their own name lowd in their ear, and you must pluck them somewhat hard by the hairs of the Temples, and Neck. Also rub the Temples, Nostrils, Wrists, and Palms of the Hands with Aqua vitae, wherein Cloves, Nutmegs, and Ginger have been steeped.