Although I doubt that the poster of this article meant for this to be helpful, we will ignore his intentions as he has inadvertently found a wonderful example of fin de siècle medical diagnosis and treatment. Had our poor heroine's doctor read this, she might not have eaten the bedposts.
I have immediately begun the prescribed regimen of wine, cheerful company, and the good air of this and the PCAT threads. Unfortunately, I have been unable to locate a horse and had to resort to sitting on the cat, who protested loudly and collapsed. Perhaps he needs some chalybeate water too.
I do wish Lather were around to tell us just what is in those Anti-hysteric spirits.
From the Household Cyclopedia of Household Information - published in 1881
A diagnosis of hysteria in women from late nineteenth century medicine
_Hysteric Fits._
This complaint, called also the hysteric passion, appears under various shapes, and is often owing to a lax, tender habit, obstruction of the menses, fluor albus, etc.
In the fit the patient is seized with an oppression in the breast, and difficult respiration, accompanied with a sensation of something like a ball ascending into the throat, which puts her under great apprehensions of being suffocated. There is a loss of speech, and generally violent convulsive motions. These, with a train of hypochondriac symptoms, are sufficient to determine the disease. to which may be added frequent laughing and crying, and various wild, irregular actions: after which a general soreness all over the body is felt, the spirits are low, the feet are cold. The urine is clear and limpid, and discharged in great quantity. The hysteric fit may be easily distinguished from fainting; for in this the pulse and respiration are entirely stopped; in that they are both perceivable.
_Cure and Prevention._
Nothing recovers a person sooner out of the hysteric fit than putting the feet and legs in warm water.
When low spirits proceed from a suppression of the piles or the menses, these evacuations must be encouraged, or repeated cuppings substituted. When they take their origin from long-continued grief, anxious thoughts, or other distresses of mind, nothing has done more service, in these cases, than agreeable company, daily exercise, and especially long journeys, and a variety of amusements.
Regimen.--A light animal food, red wine, cheerful company, and a good clear air, with moderate exercise, are of great importance in this disorder. Drinking tea, and such like tepid relaxing fluids, should be but moderately indulged in.
The cure consists in whatever tends to strengthen the solids, and the whole habit in general; and nothing will effect this more successfully than a long-continued use of the mineral chalybeate waters, and riding on horseback. Assafoetida pills, 3 grains each, are often temporarily useful.
_Anti-hysteric Spirits._
Take of proof spirit, 1 pint; sal ammoniac, 2 ounces; assafoetida, 6 drachms; potash, 3 ounces. Mix them, and draw off, by distillation, 1 pint, with a slow fire.
The spirit is pale when newly distilled, but acquires a considerable tinge by keeping. The dose is a teaspoonful, in some water, during hysterics, and the same to be taken occasionally.
_Anti-hysteric Pills._
Take of compound pills of galbanum, 2 drachms; rust of iron, 4 scruples; syrup of ginger, as much as is sufficient. Form a mass, which is to be made into 40 pills, of which take 4 at noon and at seven in the evening every day, drinking after them half a glass of port wine. These pills are good in hysteric affections. |
