76G 



SEEVICE, UNITED STATES LIFE-SAVING. 



tated. If natural breathing is not restored in 

 three or four minutes, the patient is turned a 

 second time upon the stomach in an opposite di- 

 rection from that in which he was first turned, 

 the object being to free the air-passages from 

 any remaining water. The artificial respira- 

 tion is then resumed and continued if necessary 

 from one to four hours, or until the patient 

 breathes, and when life appears the first short 

 gasps are carefully aided by the same method. 

 From the first, if assistants are present, the 

 limbs of the patient are rubbed, always in an 

 upward direction toward the body and with 

 firmness and energy, the bare hands being used, 

 or dry flannels or handkerchiefs, and the fric- 

 tion kept up under blankets, or over dry cloth- 

 ing. The warmth of the body is also promoted 

 whenever possible by the application of hot 

 flannels to the stomach and armpits, and bot- 

 tles or bladders of hot water, or heated brick?, 

 to the limbs and the soles of the feet. As 

 soon as breathing is established, the patient is 

 stripped of all wet clothing, wrapped in blan- 

 kets only, put to bed comfortably warm, but 

 with a free circulation of fresh air, and left to 

 perfect rest. For the first hour a little hot 

 brandy-and-water, or other stimulant, is given 

 every ten or fifteen minutes, and as often after- 

 ward as may be expedient. After reaction is 

 established the patient is in great danger of 

 congestion of the lungs, and unless perfect rest 

 is maintained for at least forty-eight hours he 

 may be seized with difficulty of breathing, 

 and death ensue if immediate relief is not af- 

 forded. In such cases a large mustard plaster 

 is placed upon his chest, and if he gasps for 

 breath before the mustard takes effect his 

 breathing is assisted by the careful repetition 

 of the artificial respiration. In connection with 

 this process the surfmen are instructed to 

 consider the clinching of the jaws and semi- 

 contraction of the fingers, which have been 

 considered signs of death, to be on the contrary 

 evidences of vitality, and to borrow from them 

 hope and confidence for redoubled effort in 

 the work of resuscitation. This is a discovery 

 of Dr. Labordette, of the Hospital of Lisieux, 

 in France. He found by numerous experi- 

 ments that the jaws and hands relax when 

 death ensues, rigor mortis supervening later. 



The Merriman life-saving suit is supplied to 

 the stations, and often proves useful by ena- 

 bling surfmen to effect rescues of individuals 

 struggling in the breakers, and even to reach 

 wrecks and assist benumbed crews to set up 

 the life-lines. It consists of footed pantaloons 

 of India-rubber, and above the waist of a 

 double ply of the same material covering all 

 but the face, and inflated severally in breast, 

 back, and head, between the plies, by three 

 rubber^ tubes. Being thus buoyant, and also 

 Impervious to air, its wearer can neither drown 

 nor freeze. Since its original introduction at 

 the stations, the exploits of Paul Boyton have 

 given it celebrity. 



Upon occasions of boat-service, the life-sav- 



ing crews are required by regulation to wear 

 the cork life-belts devised by Captain Ward, 

 the Inspector of the Royal National Life-Boat 

 Institution of Great Britain. These life-belts 



LIFE-SAVING DEESS. 



weigh severally only 4J pounds ; are flexible, 

 being composed of a series of small blocks of 

 cork strung together; have crenellations un- 

 der the arms, leaving those members unim- 

 peded in action ; and by rendering the surfmen 

 secure from drowning, double their efficiency 

 to assist others in case of exigency. 



CORK LIFE-BELT. 



The stations are opened for service on the 

 seaboard from September 1st to May 1st, or 

 for a shorter period wherever deemed prudent, 

 and on the Lakes from the opening to the close 

 of navigation. Strict wa.tch and ward is main- 

 tained during this period at the life-boat sta- 

 tions by lookout, and at the complete life-saving 

 stations by patrol. The period between sunset 



