428. THE NEW ZEALAND FAMILY HERB DOCTOR, 
FAINTING 
Is a condition usually caused by a shock to the system, either 
mental or physical, although it often occurs from extreme 
debility. The direct cause is a partial stoppage of the heart’s 
action. This is a wise provision of nature, which is some- 
times the means of saving life. For instance, a person gets 
a limb torn off, or a lesser accident, in which some of the 
arteries are cut or torn. Were the heart to continue at its 
usual pace, the life current would escape, and, in all probability, 
the sufferer would bleed to death; but the blood pressure 
being lessened, the arteries and veins have time to contract, 
and the patient recovers, except in extreme cases. . 
TREATMENT.—Having already treated upon someaccidents 
that cause fainting, we will only remind the reader that the 
causes should receive attention, and point out what is to be 
done. First, suppose it happens in a meeting. Remove to 
the open air, or into an airy room, lay on the back, wet the 
temples, rub the hands, apply the smelling salts to the nose. 
If the patient is not revived soon, give some antispasmodic 
tincture—tincture of cayenne or ginger. If any of the biood- 
vessels have been wounded, now is the time to bind them up. 
Where fainting results from sheer weakness, find out the cause 
and work for its removal; tonics and nervines are indicated 
here. 
DEATH. 
To determine when it has taken place, if breathing and 
circulation have ceased, lifeis gone. By holding the polished 
blade of a razor or knife to the mouth or close to the nostrils, 
if there is no moisture on it then there is no breath. Darken 
the room, hold a candle behind the fingers, if dead the red 
semi-transparence will be wanting. Place your ear over the 
left side of the chest, and if there is no_heart-beat, 
circulation has ceased. These. with the coldness, the glazed 
eyes and deadly pallor proclaim too unmistakably that another 
soul is dead. 
