334 RESUSCITATION FROM DROWNING. 



head nearly as fast as the body lest convulsions come on. 

 Rubbing the body with warm cloths or the hand, and slap- 

 ping the fleshy parts, may assist to restore warmth, and the 

 breathing also. If the patient can surely swallow, give hot 

 coffee, tea, milk, or a little hot sling. Give spirits sparingly, 

 lest they produce depression. Place the patient in a warm 

 bed, and give him plenty of fresh air ; keep him quiet. 



BEWARE ! 



Avoid Delay. A moment may turn the scale for life or 

 death. Dry ground, shelter, warmth, stimulants, etc., at this 

 moment are nothing Artificial breathing is everything is 

 the One Remedy all others are secondary. 



Do not stop to remove wet clothing. Precious time is 

 wasted, and the patient may be fatally chilled by the expo- 

 sure of the naked body, even in summer. 



Give all your attention and effort to restore breathing by 

 forcing air into, and out of, the lungs. If the breathing has 

 just ceased, a smart slap on the face, or a vigorous twist of 

 the hair will sometimes start it again, and may be tried inci- 

 dentally. 



Before natural breathing is fully restored, do not let the 

 patient lie on his back unless some person holds his tongue 

 forward. The tongue by falling backward may close the wind- 

 pipe, and cause fatal choking. 



Prevent friends from crowding around the patient and ex- 

 cluding the fresh air ; also from trying to give stimulants 

 before the patient can swallow. The first causes suffocation ; 

 the second, fatal choking. 



Do not give up too soon : you are working for life. Any 

 time within two hours you may be on the very threshold of 

 success without there being any sign of it. 



