An inaugural dissertation on apoplexy. By Thomas Triplett, of Alexandria, honorary member of the Philadelphia Medical Society - May 1798

You can test whether your doctor has advanced in stroke in the past 218 years. Dr. Cullen is referred to numerous times. Have your doctor explain why the current treatment is better than this.
https://www.amazon.com/inaugural-dissertation-apoplexy-Alexandria-Philadelphia/dp/1170871135?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0
Selected lines.

Common subjects of this disorder;
1. Very corpulent people, especially those who have indulged too liberally in the pernicious use of spirituous liquors.
2.  Peculiar constitutions; short necks and large heads with irritable habits.
3.  Indolence and excess in eating and drinking, produce a plethoric state of the system, and by distending the stomach and interrupting the function of respiration, prevent the free return of blood to the heart,
4.  Long and constant application of the mind on one subject, by increasing the determination to the brain, predisposes to apoplexy.
5.  Old age.  May be ascribed to a venous plethora, and also an accumulation of their excitability.
6.  A large undigested meal, may be considered the most frequent., for by distending the stomach, preventing in great measure the expansion of the lungs and pressing upon the aorta, it accumulates blood in the vessels of the brain and proves a very frequent source of this disease.
7.  Violent exercise, by increasing the general circulation and accelerating the flow of blood to the brain will often have the same effect.
8. Vomiting.
9.  Hot bathing is a frequent cause of apoplexy.
Diagnosis:
Many of the appearances which drunkenness exhibits are so similar to the apoplexy that it is extremely difficult to ascertain the difference. So in 218 years the stroke world still hasn't solved this problem.
The method of Cure:
1. It is of the utmost importance in the commencement of the fit, immediately to diminish the excitement of the vessels of the brain. With this intention copious bleeding is employed. Some have advised opening the temporal and carotid arteries, the vessels under the tongue. etc.  Others have thought that every advantage might be derived by drawing it from the jugular veins, or from both arms at once.
2. Purging; The bowels should always be kept regularly open. We should make use of such medicines for this purpose that will act briskly, although the more dramatic purges are not to be preferred.
3. Cold Water; When this disease has been brought on by breathing carbonic acid gas or by exposure to heat. The remedy seems particularly serviceable.
4. Cool and fresh air; When the apoplexy has been brought on by breathing impure air in crowded assembles, we should immediately expose the patient to pure cool air.
5. Blisters should be applied to the head and neck, the head already having been shaved.
6. Here we must have recourse to the most stimulating applications; as cataplasms composed of garlic and mustard to the arms and feet. 
7.  Electricity and frictions ought to be tried and certain acrid substances, as garlic, to be held in the mouth.
8. Ardent spirits and volatile salts should be given internally.