COMA

is a state of unconsciousne , so deep that the ‘patient cannot be roused. The breathing is usually slow and the pulse also slow and easily felt, thus rion, Pate the pulse of a fainting fit, in which the pulse is weak and difficult to feel. The causes fall under two groups, (1) injury to and (2) poisoning of the brain. Injury may be due to fracture of the skull or to rupture of a blood-ve el within the brain (that is apoplexy); poison may have been swallowed or injected under the skin, ¢.g., opium or carbolio acid or great exce of alcohol, or it may be wince within the body by constitutional disorders, ¢.g., Bright's disease and diabetes. Medical aid should be obtained, the head and shoulders meanwhile kept raised, no stimulants given and if nece ary art if i ciel respiration performed. Any z2 [s. 344]