Byron, George Gordon Byron, Baron, 1788-1824 -- Last years; Poets, English -- 19th century -- Biography
Early the next morning I called on the patient, who told me that,
having passed a better night than he had expected, he had not
requested Dr. Bruno to bleed him. Chagrined at this, I laid aside all
consideration for his feelings, and solemnly assured him how deeply I
lamented to see him trifle with his life in this manner. I told him
that his pertinacious refusal to be bled had caused a precious
opportunity to be lost; that a few hours of hope yet remained; but
that, unless he would submit immediately to be bled, neither Dr. Bruno
nor myself could answer for the consequences. He might not care for
life, it was true; but who could assure him, unless he changed his
resolution, the disease might not operate such disorganization in his
cerebral and nervous system as entirely to deprive him of his reason?
I had now touched the sensible chord, for, partly annoyed by our
unceasing importunities, and partly convinced, casting at us both the
fiercest glance of vexation, he threw out his arm, and said in the
most angry tone: 'Come; you are, I see, a d----d set of butchers. Take
away as much blood as you will, but have done with it.'
We seized the moment, and drew about twenty ounces. On coagulating,
the blood presented a strong buffy coat. Yet the relief obtained did
not correspond to the hopes we had anticipated, and during the night
the fever became stronger than it had been hitherto. The restlessness
and agitation increased, and the patient spoke several times in an
incoherent manner. The next morning (17th) the bleeding was repeated;
for, although the rheumatic symptoms had completely disappeared, the
cerebral ones were hourly increasing, and this continuing all day, we
opened the vein for the third time in the afternoon. Cold applications
were from the beginning constantly kept on the head; blisters were
also proposed. When on the point of applying them, Lord Byron asked me
whether it would answer the same purpose to apply both on the same
leg. Guessing the motive that led him to ask this question, I told him
I would place them above the knees, on the inside of the thighs. 'Do
so,' said he; 'for as long as I live I will not allow anyone to see my
lame foot.'
In spite of our endeavours, the danger hourly increased; the different
signs of strong nervous affection succeeded each other with surprising
rapidity; twitchings and involuntary motions of the tendons began to
manifest themselves in the night; and, more frequently than before,
the patient muttered to himself and talked incoherently.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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