Mr. hunter’s Propofals 
412 
XXIV. Propofals for the Recovery of People apparently 
drowned. By John Hunter, Efq. F. R. S. 
Mar ; 2T ’ IT AVING been requefted by a principal 
-*■ member of the fociety, lately eftablifhed 
for the recovery of perfons apparently drowned, to com- 
mit my thoughts on that fubjedt to paper; I readily com- 
plied with his requeft, hoping, that, although I have had 
no opportunities of making actual experiments upon 
drowned perfons, it might be in my power to throw fome 
lights on a fubjedt fo clofely connedted with the inquiries 
which, for many years, have been my favourite bufinefs 
and amufement. I therefore colledted together my ob- 
fervations and experiments relative to the lofs and reco- 
very of the adtions of life, and fhewed them to a Society 
of which I am a member; who approved of them as new 
and curious, and unanimoufly recommended their being 
fubmitted to the j udgement of this learned Body. T he 
practice is new, and has furnifhed as yet few important 
and clear fadts. If we judge of the queftion by our ge- 
neral knowledge of the animal ceconomy, I am afraid, 
it is fo imperfedtly underftood, that our reafoning from it 
alone could not be relied on : neverthelefs, on a fubjedf fo 
interefting to humanity, we muft not be idle; we muft 
throw out our obl'ervations, and reafon as well as we can 
from 
