1867 .] 
AMKRK^AN AOKICM ^/rUKIST. 
4:53 
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(Pf For other /foveehoU Item *, m« " Beuket " page *.) 
What to Do with a Person apparently 
Drowned. 
Many lives are annually lost by drowning, which 
might be saved did those present at tlie recovery of 
the 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 the spectators to 
restore life. The Royal National Life-boat Associ¬ 
ation, of England, has published a series of brief 
directions for the treatment of those apparently 
drowned. These arc compiled by some of the 
most eminent medical men In England, and arc dis¬ 
tributed tlironghout the navy and at all the army 
stations of tliat country. Now that the skating 
Be.ason, a time at which accidents are very frequent, 
is at hand, we think we shall do a timely service 
wlUi the face downwards, and one of the arms un¬ 
der tlie forehead, in which 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 oi)eratlou by wip¬ 
ing and cleansing the 
mouth. If satlsfac- 
torj* breathing com¬ 
mences, use the treat¬ 
ment described below 
to promote warmth. 
If tliere be only slight _ 
breathing — or no 
breathing—or If the 
breathing full, then— 
To EiciU Breathing 
—Turn the iwitlcnt 
well and Instantly on the side, supporting the hcatl, 
and excite the nostrils with snnlf, hartshorn, and 
smelling salts, or 
tickle the thniat with 
a feather, etc.. If these 
are at luind. Rub tiro 
chest and face warm, 
and dash cold water, 
or cold and hot water 
alteniately, on them. 
If there be no suc¬ 
cess, lose not a mo¬ 
ment, but instantly— 
To Tmilate Breathing 
—Repl.vce the imticnt 
on the face, raising 
and supimrting the 
chest well on a fold¬ 
ed coat or other art iclc 
of dress. Turn the 
Fig. l.-MANNEH OF INDLCINO INSPIRATION. 
the side and a little beyond, and then briskly on 
the face, back again, rcpcatlug these measures 
cautiously, efliclently, and pcrsevcriugly, about 
fifteen times in the 
minute, or once ev¬ 
ery four or five sec¬ 
onds, occa.sionaUy 
varying the side. 
By placing the pa¬ 
tient on the chest, 
the weight of the 
body forces the air 
out; when turned 
on the side, this 
pressure is remov¬ 
ed, ami air enters 
the chest. On each 
oceasion that the 
body is replaeed on 
the face, make uni¬ 
form but eflicient 
pressure with brisk 
movement, on the back, between and below the 
shoulder-blades or bones on each side, remov¬ 
ing the pressure im¬ 
mediately before 
tunilng 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. The 
first measure In¬ 
creases the cx])lra- 
tlon — the second 
commences Inspira¬ 
tion. The result is 
Respiration or Na¬ 
tural Breathing; and 
If not too late. Life. 
Whilst the above 
can be procured, strip the body, and cover or gradu¬ 
ally reclothe It, but taking care not to interfere 
in reproducing the 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 the 
p.itient instantly on the spot, in the open air, with 
the face downward, whether on shore or afloat; 
exposing the face, neck, and chest to the wind, ex¬ 
cept in severe weather; remove all tight cloth¬ 
ing from the neck and chest, especially the braces. 
The points to be .aimed at are—first and iminedi- 
eddy, the Re8TOR.i.tion of Bkeatiiixo ; and second¬ 
ly, the Promotion of Warmth and Circclation. 
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 lias 
pronounced tliat life is extinct. Efforts to promote 
Warmth and Circulation, beyond removing the wet 
clothes and drj’ing 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. 
Fig. 3._8II.VEt>Ti;u’s method of INDI* INU INrl’IKAIloN. 
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 jilaccd under the shoulder-blades. 
Draw forward the patient’s tongue, and keep It 
projecting beyond the lli>s; an clastle band over 
the tongue and under the 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 pobitlon. 
Remove all tight clothing about the neck and clicst. 
To Imitate the Morement* of Breathing. —Standing 
at the jiatlent’s head, grasp the arms just above the 
elbows, and draw the arms gently and steadily up¬ 
wards above the head, and keep than stretched ujv 
wards for two seconds. {^Dy this means air is draten 
into the lungs.) Then turn down the i>aticnt’8 arms, 
and press them gently and firmly for two seconds 
against the sides of the chc.«t {By this means air 
is pressetl out of the lungs.) Repeat these measures 
Fig. 2.— manner op rvouerNO expiration, 
II. — To Restore Breathing. — To dear ths 
Throat, —Place the pattent on the floor or ground 
operations are being proceeded with, dry the hands 
and feet, and as soon as dry clothing or blankets 
Fig. 4.—SIEVESTER’.S method of inducing EXI’IUATIOS. 
alternately, deliberately, and porscvcnngly, about 
fifteen times In a minute, until a si>ontaneou8 effort 
to respire is perceived ; then Immediately cease, and 
proceed to Induce Circulation and Warmth. 
IV.—Treatment after Natural Breathing 
HAS BEEN Restored. —7b Promote Wannth and Cir- 
adation. —Commence nibbing the limbs upwards, 
with firm, grasping pressure,and cnerg)', using hand¬ 
kerchiefs, flanncD, etc. The friction must be con¬ 
tinued under the blanket or over the dry clothing. 
Promote the wannth 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 the pa¬ 
tient has been carried to a house afUr respiration 
has been restored, be careful to let the air play free¬ 
ly about the room. f)u the restoration of life, a tea¬ 
spoonful of warm water should bo given ; and then. 
If the iiower of swallowing has retunied, small quan¬ 
tities of wine, warm brandy and water, or coffee, 
should bo administered. The patient should be 
kept In bed, and a disposition to sleep encouraged. 
General Observations.— The above treatment 
