373

OF DROWNED PERSONS.

When a person has remained above a quarter of an hour under water,there can be no considerable hopes of his recovery. But as several cir-cumstances may happen to have continued life, in such an unfortunatesituation, beyond the ordinary term, we should never too soon resign theunhappy object to his fate, but try every method for his relief.

The first thing to be done, after the body is taken out of the water isto convey it as soon as possible to some convenient place where thenecessary operations for its recovery may be performed. In doing this,care must be taken not to bruise or injure the body by carrying it in anyunnatural posture with the head downwards, or the like. If an adultbody, it ought to be laid on a bed, or on straw, with the head a littleraised, and carried on a cart or on men's shoulders, and kept in asnatural and easy a position as possible. A small body may be carriedsn the arms.

In attempting to recover persons apparently drowned, the principal.intention to be persued is, to restore the natural warmth, upon which allthe vital functions depend; and to excite these functions by ihe applica-tion of stimulants, not only to the skin, but likewise to the lungs,intestines, &c.

Though cold was by no means the cause of the persons death, yet itwill proVe an effectual obstacle to his recovery. For this reason, afterstripping him of his wet clothes, his body must be strongly rubbed for aconsiderable time with course linen cloths, as warm as they can be m^e;and as soon as a well heated bed can be got ready, he may be laid in it,and the rubbing should be continued. Warm cloths ought likewise tobe frequently applied to the stomach and bowels, and hot bricks, orbottles of warm water, to the soles of his feet and the palms of his hands.

Strong volatile spirits should be frequently applied to the nose ; andthe spine of the back and pit of the stomach may be rubbed with warmbrandy or spirit of wine. The temples ought also to be chafed withvolatile spirits; and stimulating powders, as that of tobacco or marjoram,may be blown up the nostrils.

To renew the breathing, a strong person may blow his own breath intothe patient's mouth with all the force he can, holding his nostrils at thesame time. When it can be perceived by the rising of the chest or bellythat the lungs are filled with air, the person ought to desist from blow-ing, and should press the breast and belly so as to expel the air againand this operation may be repeated for some time alternately in flatin^and depressing the lungs as to imitate natural respiration.

If the lungs cannot be inflated in this manner, it may be attemptedby blowing through one of the nostrils, and at the same time keeping theother close. Dr. Monro for this purpose recommends a wooden pipefitted at one end for filling the nostril, and at the other for being blowninto by a person's mouth, or for receiving the pipe of a pair of bellows,to be employed for the same purpose, if nee essary.