J34 THE FARMER AT HOME. 



tion, suffocation by fixed air, apoplexies, epilepsies, sudden faintings, 

 violent shocks of electricity, or even violent falls and bruises. Physi- 

 cians, however, are not agreed with regard to the nature of the 

 injury done to the animal system, in any or all these accidents. It 

 is indeed certain that, in all cases above mentioned, particularly in 

 drowning, there is very often such a suspension of the vital powers, as 

 to us has the appearance of a total extinction of them ; while yet they 

 may be again set in motion, and the person restored to life, after a 

 much longer submersion than has generally been thought capable of 

 producing absolute death. 



The length of time during which a person may remain in water 

 without being drowned is very unequal in different individuals ; and 

 depends as much on the temperature of the water as on the particular 

 constitution of the subject. In general, however, there is less pros- 

 pect of recovery , after having continued fifteen minutes immersed in 

 water. In such cases, death ensues from impeded respiration, and the 

 consequent ceasing of circulation of the blood, by which the body loses 

 its heat, arid with that, the activity of the vital principle. Dr. Good- 

 wyn justly observes, that the water produces all the changes which 

 take place in drowning, only indirectly, by excluding atmospheric air 

 from the lungs, as they admit but a very inconsiderable quantity of 

 fluid to pass into them during immersion. Hence we find that infla- 

 tion of the lungs is one of the principal means of restoring life to those 

 apparently dead from having been too long in the water. 



DRUG-. The general name of substances used in medicines, sold 

 by the druggist, and compounded by apothecaries and physicians ; 

 any substance, vegetable, animal, or mineral, which is used in the 

 composition or preparation of medicines. It is also applied to dyeing 

 materials. Any commodity that lies on hand, is not saleable ; an 

 article of slow sale, or in no demand in the market, is frequently called 

 a drug. 



DRUM. A martial instrument of music, in form of a hollow cyl- 

 inder, and covered at the ends with vellum, which is stretched or 

 slackened at pleasure. In machinery, drum is a short cylinder 

 revolving on an axis, generally for the purpose of turning several small 

 wheels, by means of straps passing round its periphery, In anatomy, 

 a portion of the ear is called the drum, or tympanum, or barrel of the 

 ear. The membrane of the tympanum of the ear is tense, and closes 

 the external passage of the ear, receiving the vibrations of the air. 



DRUNKENNESS. Alcohol is the chief of the intoxicating sub- 

 stances ; but there are others besides it which produce a similar 

 effect . Such are opium and bangue, hemlock, nightshade, henbane, 

 and touacco. Nitrous oxide gas, applied for a few seconds to the 

 lungs by means of breathing, induces a transitory sort of intoxication. 

 Opium and bangue are used in Mahometan countries, where the laws 

 of the prophet prohibit the use of wine. Bangue induces a sort of 



