360 On holding the Breath for a lengthened Period. [1833. 



pool, one man sinks senseless and helpless, from breathing the 

 unsuspected noxious atmosphere within, another man of cool 

 mind would by means of this mode of preparation, which re- 

 quires nothing but what is always at hand, have abundant 

 time, in most cases, to descend by the ladder or the bucket, 

 and rescue the sufferer without any risk on his own part. If 

 a chamber were on fire, the difference in the help which could 

 be given to any one within it by a person thus prepared, and 

 another who goes in, perhaps, with lungs partially exhausted, 

 and who, if he inhale any portion of the empyreumatic vapours 

 of the atmosphere, is stimulated to inspire more rapidly, and 

 is therefore urged to instant retreat into fresh air, is so great, 

 that no one who has noticed what can be done in a minute or 

 in two minutes of time can doubt the value of the preparation 

 under such circumstances, even though from want of practice 

 and from hurry and alarm it may be very imperfectly made. 

 In cases of drowning, also, a diver may find his powers of 

 giving aid wonderfully increased by taking advantage of Sir 

 Graves Haughton's fact. 



I have myself had occasion to go more than once or twice 

 into places with atmospheres rendered bad by carbonic acid, 

 sulphuretted hydrogen or combustion ; and I feel how much I 

 should have valued at such times the knowledge of the fact 

 above stated. Hoping, therefore, that it may be useful, I will 

 add one or two precautions to be borne in mind by those who 

 desire to apply it. 



Avoid all unnecessary action ; for activity exhausts the air 

 in the lungs of its vital principle more quickly, and charges it 

 with bad matter. Go collectedly, coolly and quietly to the spot 

 where help is required : do no more than is needful, leaving 

 what can be done by those who are in a safe atmosphere (as 

 the hauling up of a senseless body, for example,) for them to 

 do. 



Take the precautions usual in cases of danger in addition to 

 the one now recommended. Thus, in a case of choke-damp, 

 as in a brewer's vat, hold the head as high as may be ; in a 

 case of fire in a room, keep it as low down as possible. 



If a rope is at hand, by all means let it be fastened to the 

 person who is giving help, that he may be succoured if he 

 should venture too far. It is astonishing how many deaths 



