RESPIRATION 



97 



The patient is laid face downward with an arm bent under the head, 

 and intermittent pressure applied vertically over the shortest ribs. The 

 pressure drives the air from the lungs, both by compressing the lower 

 portions of the chest and by forcing the abdominal contents against 

 the diaphragm, while the elastic reaction of the parts causes fresh air 

 to enter (Figs. 47 and 48). "The operator kneels or squats by the 

 side of, or across the patient, places his hands over the lowest ribs and 

 swings his body backward and forward so as to allow his weight to 



FIG. 48. Artificial respiration. Inspiration. 



fall vertically on the wrists and then to be removed ; in this way hardly 

 any muscular exertion is required. . . . The pressure is applied grad- 

 ually and slowly, occupying some three seconds ; it is then withdrawn 

 during two seconds and again applied ; and so on some twelve times 

 per minute." * 



The special advantages of the prone-posture method over others that 

 have been employed are: i. It may be applied by a single individual 

 and for a long period of time without exhaustion. 2. It allows the 

 mucus and water (in case of drowning) to run out of the mouth, and 

 causes the tongue to fall forward so as not to obstruct the passageway. 

 3. It brings a sufficient amount of air into the lungs. 2 



1 E. A. Schaffer, "Artificial Respiration in its Physiologic Aspects," The Journal 

 of the American Medical Association, September, 1908. 



2 Testing the prone-posture method by suitable apparatus, Professor Schaffer has 

 found it capable of introducing more air per minute into the lungs than any of the 

 other methods of artificial respiration, and more even than is introduced by ordi- 

 nary breathing. 



