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Fainting Fits

If a person faints, let him be placed on his back until he comes to. Do nothing else. He has fainted because the heart has stopped beating. It will come to of itself as soon as nature desires it, and it will be easier to propel the blood in a horizontal direction, when lying down, than perpendicularly to the head, chest, and arms, when sitting up. And yet the very first effort of bystanders when a person is observed to have fainted, is to place him on a chair, or lift up his head. (Hall). If the patient be a female, place her on her back, with the head low, loosen all clothes about the neck and chest, sprinkle cold water on the face, and apply smelling salts to the nostrils.

When the patient can swallow, give some cold water, with 20 or 30 drops of sal-volatile, or a little brandy.