86 PLYM AND TAMAR HUMANE SOCIETY. 



which was read at the anniversary meeting, held on 

 the 15th ult., stated that 104 cases of drowning had 

 occurred during the year, exclusive of those from ship- 

 wreck on the Breakwater, and not less than 24 deaths, 

 all in this district : many more would inevitably have 

 occurred had it not been for the philanthropic exer- 

 tions of the society. 



These are startling facts ! which cannot but arouse 

 our sympathy, whilst, at the same time, our surprise 

 is excited that, in a port like this, public attention should 

 have remained so long unawakened to the necessity of 

 such an institution, when it is well known that the 

 Royal Humane Society of London has been in existence 

 since the year 1774. 



We must not however omit to observe that the thanks 

 of our fellow townsmen are due to J. R. Roberts, Esq. 

 for his benevolent and unwearied exertions during the 

 progress and establishment of the Plym and Tamar 

 Society; he may be justly considered as its founder: 

 humble as our own meed of approbation may be, we 

 cannot deny ourselves the pleasure of hereby recording 

 it ; although we are perfectly aware that he can afford 

 to dispense with, and has too much good sense to care 

 for, any thing in the shape of adulation. 



One very important observation was made in the 

 course of the report, alluded to above, namely that 

 "Syncope (fainting) no( unfrequentlly occurs at the 

 moment of submersion :" this accounts for the restora- 

 tion of persons in whom life had been extinct for an 

 hour, or an hour and a half, as was the case in two in- 

 stances in this district during the last year. The Hon. 

 Secretary observed that the Parent Society was anxious 

 to call the attention of medical and physiological ob- 

 servers to this most interesting fact, a knowledge of 

 which may prove of the utmost importance, as the very 

 - best physiologists have recorded their conviction that 

 death will occur in from three to five minutes after 

 respiration has been suspended by strangulation or 

 drowning. We are indebted to the kindness of the Hon. 

 Secretary for the following information which was ori- 



