;i«4

OF SUFFOCATION, &c.

repeated with the same happy effect, and seemed to be the chief causeof his recovery. He then began to siiew some signs of life, took drinkwhen it was offered him, and came gradually to his senses. He con-tinued, however, for several days weak and feverish, and complainedmuch of a soreness in his bowels, which gradually went off, by meansof a slender diet and cool mucilagious liquors.

OF SUFFOCATION AND STRANGLING

These may sometimes proceed from an infarction of the lungs, pro-duced by viscid clammy humours, or a spasmodic affection of the nervof that organ. Persons who feed grossly, and abound in rich blood, arcvery liable to suffocating fits from the former of these causes. Suchought, as soon as they are attacked, to be bled, to receive an emollientclyster, and to take frequently a cup of diluting liquor with a little nitre"in it. They should likewise receive the steams of hot vinegar into theirlungs by breathing.

Nervous and asthmatic persons are most subject to spasmodic af-fections of the lungs. In this case the patient's legs should be immersedin warm water, and the steams of vinegar applied as above. Warmdiluting liquors should likewise be drank; to a cupful of which a tea-spoonful of the camphorated tincture of opium may occasionally beadded. Burnt paper, feathers, or leather, may be held to the patient'snose, and fresh air should be freely admitted to him.

Infants are often suffocated by the carelessness or inatteution of theirnurses, and sometimes by the mother being seized with hysteric fits inthe night. An infant when in bed should always be laid so, that it can-not tumble down with its head under the bed-clothes; and when in acradle, its face ought never to be covered. A small degree of attentionto these two simple rules would save the lives of many infants, and pre-vent others from being rendered weak and sickly all their days by theinjuries done to their lungs.

The late Mr. Glover, surgeon in London, related the case of a personwho was restored to life after twenty-nine minutes hanging, and continuedin good health for many years after.

The principal means used to restore this man to life were, opening thetemporal artery and the external jugular; rubbing the back, mouth, andneck, with a quantity of volatile spirits and oil; administering the to-bacco clyster by means of lighted pipes, and strong frictions of the legs •and arms. This course had been continued for about four hours, whenan incision was made into the windpipe, and air blown strongly througha canula into the lungs. About twenty minutes after this, the blood atChe artery began to run down the face, and a slow pulse was just per-ceptible at the wrist. The frictions were continued for some time longerhis pulse became more frequent, and his mouth and nose being irritatedwith water of ammonia, he opened his eyes. Warm cordials were thenadministered to him, and in two days he was so well as to be able toIvalk eight miles.

This case is sufficient to shew what may be done for the recoveiy