What Saved Him | AdventAI

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · May 8, 1879

What Saved Him.

A YOUNG wife in Michigan had just got settled in her home. All seemed fair and promising, for she did not know her husband was a drunkard. But one night he came home at a very late hour, and much the worse for liquor. When he staggered into the house, the wife, who was greatly shocked, told him he was sick, and to lie down at once, and in a moment or two he was comfortably on the sofa, in a drunken sleep. His face was reddish-purple, and altogether, he was a pitiable looking object.

The doctor was sent for post haste, and mustard applied to his feet and hands. When the doctor came and felt his pulse, and examined him and found that he was only drunk, he said:—

"He will be all right in the morning."

But the wife insisted that he was very sick, and that severe remedies must be used.

"You must shave his head and apply blisters," she urged "or I will send for some one who will."

The husband's head was accordingly shaved closely and blisters applied.

The patient lay all night in a drunken sleep, and, notwithstanding the blisters were eating into his flesh, it was not till near morning that he began to beat about, disturbed by pain.

About daylight he woke up to a most uncomfortable consciousness of blistered agonies.

"What does this mean?" he said, putting his hands to his bandaged head.

"Lie still; you mustn't stir," said his wife; "you have been very sick."

"I am not sick."

"Oh, yes, you are. You have the brain fever. We have worked with you all night."

"I should think you had," groaned the poor victim. "What's the matter with my feet?"

"They are blistered."

"Well, I am better, now; take off the blisters—do," he pleaded piteously.

He was in a most uncomfortable state—his head covered with sores, and his feet and hands still worse.

"Dear," he said, groaning, "if I should ever get sick in this way again, don't be alarmed and send for a doctor, and, above all, don't blister me again."

"Oh, indeed I will; all that saved you were the blisters; and if you have another such spell I shall be more frightened than ever, for the tendency—I am sure—is to apoplexy, and from the next attack you are likely to die unless there are the severest measures used."

He made no further defense. Suffice it to say that he never had another attack.