Oe BY 
LXXV. On the Apparatus for restoring the Acton of the Lungs 
in apparent Death. By Joun Murray, F.L.S.M.W.S. @e. 
To Dr. Tilloch. 
f 
Sir, —- I conFEss that I am not a little surprised at a com- 
munication by ‘Mr. John Moore junior,” in your Number for 
March last. With saffeient self-complacency this correspondent 
considers the plan he proposes for restoring the action of the 
Jungs as ‘* more complete’ than my invention. Mr. John Moore 
junior is pleased to adopt the form of the syringe which I had 
done Jong before; aye, and constructed and published too; and 
he ever condescends to add, that ** it might be well to enclose 
one of them (t.¢. of the syringes) with a case to contain hot 
water similar to the description given by Mr. J. Murray.” 
I never believed myself infallible, or that my invention was 
ineapable of improvement. [ hope] am not so absurd or unrea- 
sonable ; but I do fearlessly assert, that his tmprovement, as he 
insinuates it to be, is one which adds to the complexity of the 
mechanism without subserving its utility; nay, rather injures the 
cause it is meant to serve Various plans presented themselves 
to my mind, before | completed my improved apparatus. A struc- 
ture somewhat similar to the one now set forth and vaunted by 
your correspondent Mr. John Moore junior, was immediately 
rejected, from its complete uselessness. Because, until -natural 
respiration returns, the air impelled into the lungs and with- 
drawn, by the propulsion and retrogression of the piston, un- 
dergoes no change whatever,—ergo, the idea for the necessity 
of a renewal of the air that is not contaminated is absurd. It 
was also abandoned on two other conditions ;—the necessity of 
valves, liable to injury, unequal action, and occasional suspen- 
sion ;—and, that the instrument with these unnecessary incum- 
brances was more ponderous, complex, and heavy and difficult 
in operation. 
There is no necessity whatever for once turning the stop-cock 
during the enfire action of the machine, except to free the 
bronchi@ in the first instance, of the stagnant air reposing on 
their surface; or, in ordinary cases, to deposit a drop of ether in 
the lateral cell to be diffused into the included atmosphere, as 
an eXcitant to rouse the dormant resilience of the lungs; or, 
again, to receive a drop or two of hot water to impart additional 
elasticity to the atmospheric air in the cylinder, when the air is 
too dry. 
I have said that the oxygenous part of the atmosphere cannot 
be contaminated until the flux and reflux of the blood are re- 
stored 
