4 
Constitute the ready method. To restore 
respiration — 
1. Send with all speed for medical aid : for 
articles of clothing, blankets, etc. 
2. Treat the patient on the spot, in the open 
air, exposing the face and chest freely to the 
breeze, (except in too cold weather). 
3. Place the patient gently on the face (to 
allow any fluid to flow from the mouth). 
4. Then raise the patient into the sitting 
posture, and endeavour to excite respiration — 
by snuff, hartshorn, etc., applied to the nostrils 
— by irritating the throat by a feather, or the 
finger — by dashing hot and cold water alter- 
nately on the faco and chest. But if there be 
no success, lose no time, but to imitate respi- 
ration. 
5. Replace the patient on his face, his arms 
under his head, that the tongue may fall for- 
ward and le;ve the entrance into the wind-pipe 
free, and that any fluid may flow out of the 
mouth ; then 
1. Turn the body gradually, but completely 
on the side and a little more , and then again 
on the face, alternately (to induce inspiration 
and expiration). 
2. When replaced, apply pressure along the 
back and ribs, and then remove it (to induce 
further expiration and inspiration) and proceed 
as before. 
3. Let these measures be repeated gently, 
deliberately, but (efficiently and perseveringty) 
sixteen times in the minute only. 
To induce circulation and warmth whilst 
continuing these measures (artificial respira- 
tion) rub all the limbs and the trunk upwards 
with the warm hands — making firm pressure 
energetically ; also replace wet clothing by such 
others as can be procured. 
Omit the warm bath until respiration be re- 
established.” 
We had now to apeak of the rationale of this 
method and its success — but the directions of 
the great man who penned them are so clear, 
simple, and distinct, that they seem to speak 
for, and explain themselves. We will, how- 
eve!’, contrast the above with an extract from a 
little book, an excellent authority, on the 
same subject : — Shaw says : “ The method most 
usually pursued is by compression of the 
patient’s chest and abdomen. The air is thus 
forcibly expelled, and the ribs rising, on the 
removal of the pressure, by their own elasticity, 
effect a fair inspiratory draught. Two operates 
are necessa-’y— one to compress the chest, and 
one the abdomen — both m i -t be careful to act 
in unison, and, should the patient be of large 
frame, it will be needful that they have power- 
ful arms.” 
Let any one look at the human larynx (which 
we have already described), its form, the tri- 
angular opening of the glottis, and the relative 
situation of this to the base of the tongue and 
epiglottis ; and say whether the one mode of 
proceeding is not simple, scientific, and beauti- 
ful ; the other, barbarous, unscientific, and 
worse than useless j — the one eventuating (if 
within the bounds of possibility) in recovery, 
the other tending towards, and hastening, and 
ending in, death. In the ready method the 
patient is placed on his face, with his arms 
under his head. In this posture the lungs are 
freed from part of the fluid, which pours out 
of the mouth. This position, too, causes the 
tongue and epiglottis to fall forward, and thu 3 
leaves the opening into the glottis free for the 
air to enter ; lor as we have seen, in speaking 
of the chemistry of respiration, that a very 
small quantity of carbonic acid gas imprisoned 
in the blood will cause asphyxia and death, so 
the rationale of the treatment must be to get a 
supply of pure air into the lungs, which, as we 
have already seen, parting with its oxygen, will 
be expired, charged with the poisonous car- 
bonic acid. But, in the process described by 
Mr. Shaw, the patient must be ou his 
back. Thus, no fluid will flow from the 
lungs, and, the tongue and epiglottis 
falling, by their weight, back, will 
tend to close the opening into the larynx, 
and prevent the entrance of air. The turning 
too of the body at regular intervals on to the 
side and a little more, and when replaced 
applying firm pressure along the back and ribs; 
end then removing the pressure, are the simple 
and self-evident aids to the weight of the body, 
and the elasticity of the framewr-rk of the thorax, 
and the lungs themselves, in resuscitating the 
person asphyxiated. 
How different the other treatment — the two 
assistants, one for the chest, one for the abdo- 
men — “ and men who must have powerful arms 
too” — to endeavour by an exertion of their own 
muscular power (with little assistance from 
their heads apparently) to imitate by forcible 
compression the quiet, beautiful act of respiration. 
Its success . — The late widely lamented Dr. 
Marshall Hall lived long enough to see his 
ready method for restoring persons asphyxiated 
adopted wherever his writings were known, and 
knew that by its general use hundreds, nay, 
thousands of lives had been saved. 
It is unnecessary to go farther than this town 
to show that by it many lives have been saved, 
for it is within the knowledge of the writer that 
asphyxiated persons have been restored to life 
by the prompt use of the ready method. 
Nor can we overrate the importance of the 
subject, or value too highly, or endeavour to 
spread too widely a thorough knowledge of it ; 
lor a prompt application of this ready method 
may enable any one of us to save a valuable 
life. 
Dr. Marshall Hall, by publishing his simple 
and beautiful rules, gave to us the most valuable 
legacy perhaps of his time, and which should 
be by us as widely disseminated as possible ; 
and so answer the benevolent intention of the 
giver, and at the same time extend his name and 
lame in all periods and places. 
Printed by G-. Wight, “ (Guardian Office,” Brisbane. 
