320 J'HYSIOLOGY. 



of hot water, hot bricks, or anything to restore heat. Warm 

 tJic head nearly as fast as tJie 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 

 also the breathing. 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 sec- 

 ondary. 



Do not stop to remove wet clothing. Precious time is 

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

 posure of the naked body, even in summer. 



First restore Breathing. 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 incidentally. 



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 

 windpipe and cause fatal choking. 



Prevent friends from crowding around the patient and 

 excluding the fresh air ; also from trying to give stimulants 

 before the patient can swallow. The first causes suffoca- 

 tion ; the second, fatal choking. 



