1867.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
4:53 
OTB MTOilElMLIO). 
OS~ For other Household. Items, see "Basket " pages.) 
What to Do with, a Person apparently 
Drowned. 
Many lives are annually lost by drowning, which 
might be saved did those present at the recovery of 
th°body know just what to do. These casualties 
usually occur in places where medical aid is long in 
reaching the patient, and he suffers often from neg- 
lect, but perhaps more frequently from the rude, 
though well-meant, endeavors of tbe spectators to 
restore life. Tbe Royal National Life-boat Associ- 
ation, of England, has published a series of brief 
directions for the treatment of those apparently 
drowned. These are compiled by some of the 
most eminent medical men in England, and are dis- 
tributed throughout the navy and at all the army 
stations of that country. Now that the skating 
season, a time at which accidents are very frequent, 
is at hand, we think we shall do a timely service 
Fig. 1.— MANSER OF INDUCING INSPIRATION 
in reproducing tbe essential portions of these di- 
rections with the accompanying illustrations. 
In accidents of this kind, as well as in others, it is 
important to keep spectators from crowding about 
the patient and thus preventing free access of air. 
I.'— Send immediately for medical assistance, 
blankets, and dry clothing, but proceed to treat tbe 
patient instantly on the spot, in the open air, with 
the face downward, whether on shore or afloat; 
exposing tbe face, neck, and chest to the wind, ex- 
cept in severe weather; remove all tight cloth- 
in- from the neck and chest, especially the braces. 
The points to be aimed at are— first and immedi- 
ately, the Restoration of Breathing ; and second- 
ly, tbe Promotion of Warmth and Circulation. 
The efforts to restore breathing must be commenc- 
ed immediately and energetically, and persevered 
in for one or two hours, or until a medical man has 
pronounced that life is extinct. Efforts to promote 
Warmth ami Circulation, beyond removing the wet 
clothes and drying the skin, must not be made un- 
til the first appearance of natural breathing ; for if 
circulation be induced before breathing has recom- 
menced, the restoration to life will be endangered. 
with the face downwards, and one of the arms un- 
der the forehead, in wbick position all fluids will 
more readily escape 
by the mouth, and the 
tongue itself will fall 
forward, leaving the 
entrance into the 
windpipe free. Assist 
this operation by wip- 
ing and cleansing the 
mouth. If satisfac- 
tory breathing com- 
mences, use the treat- 
ment described below 
to promote warmth. 
If there be only slight 
breathing — or no 
breathing — or if the 
breathing fail, then— 
To Excite Breathing 
—Turn the patient 
well and instantly on the side, supporting the head 
and excite the nostrils with snuff, hartshorn, and 
smelling salts, or 
tickle the throat with 
a feather, etc., if these 
are at hand. Rub the 
chest and face warm, 
and dash cold water, 
or cold and hot water 
alternately, on them. 
If there be no suc- 
cess, lose not a mo- 
ment, but instantly — 
To Imitate Breathing 
—Replace the patieut 
on the face, raising 
and supporting the 
chest well on a fold- 
ed coat or other article 
of dress. Turn the 
body very gently on 
the side and a little beyond, and then briskly on 
the face, back again, repeating these measures 
cautiously, efficiently, and perseveringly, about 
fifteen times in the 
can be procured, strip the body, and cover or gradu- 
ally reclothe it, but taking care not to interfere 
SILVESTER'S METHOD OF INDUCING INSPIRATION. 
with the efforts being made to restore breathing. 
III.— Should these efforts not prove successful 
in from two to five minutes, proceed to imitate 
breathing by Dr. Silvester's method, as follows :— 
Place the patient on the back on a flat surface, 
inclined a little upwards from the feet; support 
the head and shoulders on a small, firm cushion, 
or folded coat placed under the shoulder-blades. 
Draw forward the patient's tongue, and keep it 
projecting beyond the lips ; an elastic band over 
the tongue and under tbe chin will answer this pur- 
pose, or a piece of string or tape may be tied 
around them, or by raising the lower jaw, the teeth 
may be made to retain the tongue in that position. 
Remove all tight clothing about the neck and chest. 
To Imitate the Movements of Breathing.— Standing 
at the patient's head, grasp the arms just above tho 
elbows, and draw the arms gently and steadily up- 
wards above the head, and keep them stretched up- 
wards 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 for two seconds 
a-ainst the sides of the chest. (By 'this means air 
is pressed out of the lungs.) Repeat these measures 
Fig 
minute, or once ev 
ery four or five sec- 
onds, occasionally 
varying the side. 
By placing the pa- 
tient on the chest, 
the weight of the 
body forces tbe air 
out; when turned 
on the side, this 
pressure is remov- 
ed, and air enters 
tbe chest. On each 
occasion that the 
body is replaced on 
the face, make uni- 
form but efficient 
pressure with brisk 
movement, on the back, between and below the 
shoulder-blados or bones on each side, remov- 
ing the pressure im- 
mediately before 
turning the body on 
the side. During the 
whole of the opera- 
tions let one person 
attend solely to the 
movements of the 
head and of the arm 
placed under it. Tho 
first measure in- 
creases tbe expira- 
tion — the second 
commences inspira- 
tion. The result, is 
Respiration or Na- 
tural Breathins, ; and 
if not too late, Life. 
J?]* 2 —MANNER OF TNDTJOTN0 EXPIRATION. WtiiK the tlbOVO 
TT To Restore BREATBTNG.- To Clear the I operations are being proceeded with, dry the hands 
jiStel^S floor or ground I and feet, and ™ as dry clothing or «M*» 
4.— SILVESTER'S METHOD OF INDUCING EXPIRATION. 
alternately, deliberately, and perseveringly, about 
fifteen times in a minute, until a spontaneous effort 
to respire is perceived ; then immediately cease, and 
proceed to Induce Circulation and Warmth. 
IV— Treatment after Natural Breathing 
has been Restored.— 2Y> Promote Warmth ami Cir- 
culation.- Commence rubbing the limbs upwards, 
with firm, -rasping prcssure,and energy, using liana- 
kerchiefs, "flannels, etc. The friction must be con- 
tinued under the blanket or over the dry clothing. 
Promote the warmth of the body by hot flannels, 
bottles, or bladders of hot water, heated bricks, 
etc at the pit of the stomach, the armpits, between 
the thighs, and at the soles of the feet. If tho pa- 
tient has been carried to a house after respiration 
has been restored, be careful to let the air play free- 
ly about the room. On the restoration of life, a tea- 
spoonful of warm water should be given ; and then, 
if the power of swallowing has returned, small quan- 
titles of wine, warm brandy and water, or coffee, 
should be administered. Tho patient should be 
kept in bed, and a disposition to sleep encouraged. 
General Obseryations.-TIic above treatment 
