FE\ ; m 530 



fill up tlu- tumbW with si-aldrd milk. In some cases dry champagne forms an ad- 

 mirable stimulant. In wli.-it.-v.-r form tin- stimului:' . it must be of the best. 

 It is almost impossible to lay down any general rules as to tin- quantity. The rules 

 we have given will form the best guid.-, ami as long as the alcohol does good tin- 

 quantity should bo increased. In some cases a couple of ounces of port a day will be 

 enough, whilst in others half a pint of brandy in the course of the twenty four hours 

 will not be too much. When stimulants are required at all in i 

 be given frequently, a little every hour, and not a large quantity twn ..r three times 

 a day. It is a golden rule never to give more stimulant than is absolutely necessary. 



Restlessness is very detrimental to the welfare of the j :.--p may 



have to be ensured by the use of opium, chloral, or bromide of potassium. In : 

 the two great dangers are from exhaustion of the nervous system and enfeeblement 

 of the heart's action. The nervous system is very quickly exhausted by want of 

 sleep, and more especially by delirium. The appetite, digestion, and assimilation are 

 greatly influenced by sleep. This influence is well seen in ulcers on the surface of the 

 body. After a restless night they are painful, throbbing, inflamed, and swollen, and 

 apt to spread, whilst after a refreshing sleep they have a much more healthy appear- 

 ance. In fever want of sleep produces either noisy and furious delirium, as is 

 frequently seen in typhus, or wandering and muttering, with picking of the bed- 

 clothes, twitching of the muscles, and great prostration. In either case opium, 

 judiciously given, may save an almost hopeless life. .In delirium of the fin 

 kind it is well to combine the opium with tartar emetic, as this combination, calms 

 the excitement and produces sleep more speedily and effectually than opium given 

 alone. Three or four drops of laudanum and a drachm of antimonial wine should 

 be given every two hours till tranquillity and sleep are ensured. In the low 

 muttering delirium, with muscular tremors, dry skin, and prostration, laudanum may 

 be given with signal benefit. A drachm of laudanum is mixed with four ounces of 

 water, and of this a tea-spoonful is given every five or ten minutes till three or four 

 doses have been administered. If by that time the patient is not asleep, the 

 medicine should be discontinued for half an hour ; then, if sleep does not come on, 

 a few more doses should be given in the same way. This method often ensures 

 calm, refreshing, invigorating sleep, lasting several hours, out of which the patient 

 wakes free from wandering, refreshed, the tongue moister, the appetite and digestion 

 improved, and the skin comfortably moist. The administration of laudanum, by pro- 

 ducing refreshing sleep, often tides a patient over this critical stage with far less 

 consumption of alcoholic stimulant than would otherwise have been required. 



The great advantage of giving opium in small doses and frequently is, that the 

 desired result is obtained by the use of the minimum quantity. It must be 

 admitted, however, that sometimes a single large or moderate dose of opium will 

 answer better. Opium is especially indicated in cases in which there is either 

 diarrhoea or a dry skin. Very frequently a combination of opium and chloral will 

 act much more efficaciously than either drug alone. A single dose of fifteen grains 

 of chloral and ten drops of laudanum may be given in an ounce of water. Fifteen 

 or twenty grains of bromide of potassium may succeed in quieting the nervous 

 system and producing sleep when the other drugs have been given in vain. 



