QJ4< DESCRIPTION OF A DRAG. 



the models which are sent to you, at the desire of that Societ)''. 

 The consideration of economy has induced me to construct the- ' 

 drag. Fig 2. as it may be made at about half the price of the 

 other, and, in some cases, be equally useful. The drag. 

 Fig. 1. is applicable to every case, and the only objection to 

 it is its higher price, 

 description of You will perceive, by the annexed drawing, the object in 

 tBeinstrumenu vqew, which is to multiply the chances of laying secure hold 

 of any part of the body, without the possibility of an injury. 

 Had the dimensions been smaller than they are, the drag 

 would not encompass every part of a human body ; and with- 

 out the partition and curvatures at the extremities, the dis- 

 tances would be too great, and the body of a child might fall 

 through the intermediate spaces. By means of the sliding 

 hooks at the ends, the instrument is adapted both to naked 

 bodies, and those which are clothed. As bathers are naked, 

 the sharp-pointed extremities might lacerate in a disagreeable, 

 though not a dangerous manner i or, by entering the skin, 

 they might impede a firmer hold. They are therefore made 

 to recede. 



But in accidents from skaiting, or in such where the sub- 

 ject falls into the water with his clothes on, the hooks will be , 

 of the utmost advantage, as the slightest hold will be sufficient 

 to render the body buoyant. 



The upper extremities are made both with a socket and a 

 loop, by which they are accommodated either to a pole or a 

 cord ; or, which is still better, to both. In ponds or rivers, 

 where accidents are most likely to happen, should they occur 

 at a distance from the shore, no pole would be able 1o reach 

 to a sufficient extent, unless the- assistants were in a boat, 

 which is not at all times at hand. In such cases a cord may 

 be attached to the loop, and the instrument be thrown t© the 

 place where the body is supposed to lie. If the person ex- 

 posed to danger should be able to swim a little, or in any way 

 just support himself from sinking, he might possibly lay hold 

 of the floating piece of wood, connected with the lower end of, 

 the drag by means of a rope, and thus be brought to shore. 

 This appendage answers another purpose. In rivers parti- 

 cularly, the limbs of the instrument may probably catch 

 roots of trees, &c, and can only be disengaged by pulling the 



drag 



