Suspended Animation hy Drowning. 1 27 



the person sent to inform the friends, met on his way the 

 Physician before mentionedj and to him he of course com- 

 municated the accident. Dr. Strong being near his home, 

 immediately took his Electrical machine and proceeded to 

 the house where he found us just arrived with the body. I 

 do not recollect the appearance of the body any farther 

 than that the face was of a dark colour, and as far as we 

 could perceive, life completely extinguished. Dr. Strong 

 adopted the following active means — He first ordered the 

 body to be stripped of the wet clothes and at the same time 

 a bed to be prepared with woollen blankets thoroughly 

 warmed with a common bed pan, and in addition to these 

 he directed a kettle of warm water. As soon as the clothes 

 Were off, he wiped the body with a flannel cloth, and laid it 

 between the warm blankets. He then observed that ap- 



fjearances were very much against him, and he was doubt- 

 ul whether he should succeed. Fortunately however, he 

 did not despair, but still persevered in the application of 

 his remedies* While he was preparing the electricity he 

 directed the body to be rubbed with flannel cloths. He 

 then passed the electric sparks twice in succession through 

 the shoulders and at the same time friction was continued 

 over ihe whole body, but more particularly about the tho- 

 rax. The lungs were next inflated by means of the common 

 bellows. All this Dr. Strong observed had no effect. The 

 water by this time was sufficiently warm for his purpose, 

 and of which betook about a pint; to this he added a 

 small quantity of Brandy, with about half a table spoon full 

 of Tinct. Cantharides, and gave it per an. The tempe- 

 rature of the water I do not know. The body in an erect 

 posture, was next conveyed towards the fire, while the bed 

 was again prepared wrth warm blankets, and the body re- 

 turned. The electricity was a second time applied, and 

 W'as Immediately followed by a convulsive sigh. I was H 

 this time rubbing the breast with a flannel cloth and could 

 perceive a convulsive effort within the thorax which I sup- 

 posed to be the first returning throb of the heart, and which 

 was repeated three or four times. The lungs were again 

 inflated, and this also was immediately followed by a con- 

 vulsive effort to breathe, and by an evident palpitation of the 

 heart. The surface of the body was quite warm at this 

 time, and the friction was consequently discontinued. Air 



