88 PLYM AND TAMAR HUMANE SOCIETY. 



plunged into the water under which she remained a 

 quarter of an hour, and subsequently recovered. 



The following signs may, with limitation, serve to 

 indicate whether syncope occurred at the time of im- 

 mersion or not. When a drowned person has struggled 

 with death and the circulation has been continued after 

 submersion, the head neck and lips are generally of a 

 livid colour, the tongue is livid and swollen, the hands 

 are closed, and often contain grass and sand, and a 

 froth, frequently tinged with blood, may be perceived in 

 the lips and nostrils. When syncope has followed im- 

 mersion, and the circulation has stopped simultaneously 

 with the respiration, and when no movement of inspi- 

 ration has occurred under water, the face and neck 

 neither present a tumified nor livid appearance, the 

 hands are unclosed and contain no foreign substances, 

 the mouth and nostrils are without froth. 



But, upon the immediate recovery of a body from 

 the water, time ought not to be lost in conjecturing 

 what may be the chances of restoration ; every energy 

 ought to be awakened and presence of mind summon- 

 ed, and should any bye standers be possessed of 

 sufficient knowledge, and have such means at hand as 

 are necessary, they will often effect more by l/teir 

 promptitude than the medical assistant, when called 

 late to the accident, will be able to produce by his 

 more scientific, though complicated, manipulation. 



Our space will not admit of our detailing the me- 

 thods recommended by the society for resuscitation ; 

 these, no doubt, will be detailed in the report which, 

 we understand, will be published in the course of this 

 month ; every Plymouthian ought to have so valuable 

 a pamphlet in his possession, for, amongst a people 

 " who go down to the sea in ships, and have their bu- 

 siness on the great waters/' we know not who may be 

 the next victim. 



B. 



Printed and Published by G. Heardcr, Knckircll Street, Plymouth. 



