SUFFOCATION AND DROWNING 339 



to his home or to a hospital until after the treatment 

 has been begun. If the patient does not exhibit symp- 

 toms of high temperature, but shows pallor of face and 

 weak pulse, do not use cold applications, but give rest, 

 quiet, food and stimulants in cautious amounts. 



Brain injury. Any injury to the brain results in symp- 

 toms similar to those of apoplexy. In addition, there 

 may be bleeding from one or both ears and even from 

 the eyes, nose and mouth, due to the fracture of the 

 skull. The treatment is also similar to that of apoplexy. 



Suffocation and drowning. Cases of suffocation and 

 drowning can ordinarily be recognized as such and the 

 proper measures for relief promptly undertaken. 



Treatment: If the natural breathing movements have 

 ceased, as is frequently the case when a person is rescued 

 from drowning, artificial respiration should be applied 

 at once. Turn the person on his face, clasp your hands 

 under the lower chest and raise him from the ground; 

 the pressure upon the lower chest will compress the 

 lungs and tend to empty them of water. Repeat two or 

 three times, taking care not to injure the face by rough 

 handling. Do not, however, delay artificial respiration 

 in the attempt to remove all of the water. 



Artificial respiration. Prone pressure method (Scha- 

 fer). Wipe out the patient's mouth. Kneel by the side 

 of his hips and place hands over the lower ribs. Throw 

 your weight forward so as to press strongly though gradu- 

 ally upon both sides of the lower ribs for a space of about 

 3 seconds. Remove pressure entirely for 3 seconds. 

 Again apply pressure as before and release. Keep this 

 up at the rate of 10 or T2 times per minute, until the 

 patient shows signs of recovery. If, at the end of 2 

 hours or more, the patient does not recover and there is 

 no perceptible heart beat, the case may be considered 

 hopeless. 



