332 AUSTRALIAN AGRICULTURE. 



APPARENT DEATH PROM DROWNING The following 

 instructions for restoring persons apparently drowned are 

 issued by the Royal National Life-boat Institution. Send 

 immediately for medical aid, blankets and dry clothing, but 

 proceed to treat the patient instantly, on the spot, in the 

 open air, with the face downward whether on shore or 

 afloat ; exposing the face, neck, and chest to the air, 

 except in severe weather, and removing all tight clothing 

 from the neck and chest, especially the braces. The points 

 to be aimed at are first and immediately, the restoration 

 of breathing ; and secondly, after breathing is restored, 

 the promotion of warmth and circulation. The efforts to 

 restore breathing must be commenced immediately and 

 energetically, and persevered in for one or two hours, or 

 until a medical man lias pronounced that life is extinct. 

 Efforts to promote warmth and -circulation, beyond remov- 

 ing the wet clothes and drying the skin must not be made 

 until the first appearance of natural breathing. For if 

 circulation of the blood is induced before breathing has 

 recommenced, the restoration of life will be endangered. 



To Imitate the Movement of Breathing. Standing at 

 the patient's head, grasp the arms just above the elbows, 

 and draw the arms gently and steadily upwards above the 

 head and keep them stretched upwards for two seconds. 

 (By this means air is drawn into the lungs.) Then turn 

 down the patient's arms and press them gently and firmly 

 against the sides of the chest. (By this means air is 

 pressed out of the lungs.) Repeat the movements alter- 

 nately and perseveringly about fifteen times in a minute, 

 until a spontaneous effort to breathe is perceived, imme- 

 diately upon which cease to imitate the movements of 

 breathing and proceed to induce circulation and warmth. 



Treatment After Natural Breathing has been Restored. 

 Rub the limbs upwards, with firm, grasping pressure 

 and energy, using handkerchiefs, flannels, &c. (by this 

 measure the blood is propelled along the veins towards the 

 heart). Promote the warmth of the body by the ap plica 

 tion of hot flannels, bottles of hot water, heated stones, 

 bricks, &c., to the pit of the stomach, the armpits, between 

 the thighs, and the soles of the feet. If the patient has 



