430 THE SNAKES OF SOUTH AFRICA. 
The easiest and most efficient method to apply is as 
follows: Place the patient straight out upon his chest and 
abdomen on a fairly hard and flat surface, turn his head slightly 
to one side, so that his mouth and nose may be free. Kneel 
beside his legs, facing his head. Place the palms of your hands 
flat upon the lower parts of his ribs, one hand on each side, and 
Fic. 153.—This is the best way to perform the artificial breathing operation which 
is fully explained in the text. 
press gently but firmly, not with a sudden jerk. Pause a second 
or two, and then draw your hands back, raising the patient’s 
chest an inch or so with your fingers as you draw back (see Fig. 2 
of picture). Keep on repeating this process, for hours if necessary. 
When you press the rib-region downwards, you are driving the 
air out of the lungs. The moment you let go, the lungs again 
expand, and air rushes in. Time your movements, so that they 
