blood, hunger,
etc., are common causes.

The action of the heart is temporarily interfered with, and pallor, a
sweat on the forehead, with an indescribable feeling of sinking away,
precede unconsciousness.

The first thing to do is to bend down the patient's head till it
touches the knees, and keep it there for a few minutes. After he has
partially recovered consciousness, the clothing should be loosened, and
all tight bands or braces removed. The face and hands should be bathed
in cold water, slapping the face with a wet towel. Some stimulant, such
as hot tea, coffee, or sal volatile, may then be given.

If there is a wound causing loss of blood, it should be attended to at
once.

In case fainting is due to hunger, the greatest care should be taken to
give only small quantities of food after recovery, as a large amount
may prove fatal.

A sip of cold water, or bathing the face with cold water, will
generally prevent a threatened fainting. If there appears any immediate
danger of a relapse, keep the patient in a horizontal position for some
time.

Persons liable to fainting fits should be careful to avoid extremes of
temperature, such as very hot or very cold baths.

Fall, A.--After a fall from a height, where there is no apparent
outward injury, there is often such a severe shock to the spinal cord
and brain that continued unconsciousness occurs. In such a case, foment
the spine at first, to remove the effects of the concussion. This may
bring on serious difficulty of breathing, owing to congestion of the
spinal cord. This can be removed by applying cold cloths along the
spine. If the difficulty of breathing be present from the first, then
apply the cold at once. The first effect of such a fall is to deprive
the brain and spinal cord of vital force. This must be restored by
_heat_. Subsequent effects due to congestion can be removed by cold.
The effects of a shock in a railway accident may be similarly treated.
Common sense will guide in using heat or cold by watching the effect.
Where heat fails try cold. This is the simple rule. It is good also to
give the patient some simple purgative medicine, and some warm drink.
_Avoid all doses of alcoholic drinks._ We have known the flickering
flame of life almost extinguished by a teaspoonful of brandy.

Feeding, Over.--It is well to remember that over-feeding is a relative
term. To take more than a weak stomach can digest, is to over-feed,
although very little