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OF PERSONS WHO EXPIRE IN CONVULSION JITS.

of those unhappy persons who strangle themselves in a fit of despair,or otherwise, with guilty daring, attempt by barbarous hands to " putoft' this muddy vesture" of mortality.

OF PERSONS WHO EXPIRE IN CONVULSION FITS

Convulsion fits often constitute the last of acute or chronic dis-orders. When this is the case, there can remain but small hopes of thepatient's recovery after expiring in a fit. But when a person who ap-pears to be in perfect health is suddenly seized with a convulsion fit,and seems to expire, some attempts ought always to be made to restorehim to life. Infants are most liable to convulsions, and are often carriedoff very suddenly by one or more fits about the time of teething. Thereare many well authenticated accounts of infants having been restored tolife after they had to all appearance expired in convulsions.

When children are dead born, or expire soon after the birth, the samemeans ought to be used for their recovery as if they had expired in cir-cumstances similar to those mentioned above.

These directions may likewise be extended to adults, attention beingalways paid to the age and other circumstances of the patient.

The means used with so much efficacy in recovering drowned personsare, with equal success, applicable to a number of cases where thepowers of life seem in reality to be only suspended, and to remain capa-ble of renewing all their functions, on being put into motion again. Itis shocking to reflect, that for want of this consideration many personshave been committed to the grave in Whom the principles of life mighthave been revived.

The cases wherein such endeavours are most likely to be attendedwith success, are all those called sudden deaths from an invisible cause,as apoplexies, hysterics, faintings, and many other disorders whereinpersons in a moment sink down and expire. The various casualties inwhich they may le tried are, suffocations, from the sulphureous dampsof mines, coal-pits, &c. the unwholesome air of long unopened wells orcaverns; the noxious vapours arising from fermenting liquors; the steamof burning charcoal; sulphureous mineral acids; arsenical effluvia, &c.

The various accidents of drowning, strangling, and apparent deaths,by blows, falls, hunger, cold, &c. likewise furnish opportunities of tryingsuch endeavours. Those perhaps who to appearance are killed bylightning, or by any violent agitation of the passions, as fear, joy, surprise, and such like, might also be frequently recovered by the use otproper means, as blowing strongly into their lungs, immersing the per-son in warm water, &c.

The means to be used for the recovery of persons suddenly deprivedof life are nearly the same in all cases; they are practicable by everyone who happens to be present at the accident, and require no great ex-pence, and less skill. The great aim is to restore the warmth and vitalmotions. This may in general be attempted by means of heat, frictions,bleeding, blowing air into the lungs, administering clysters and generouscordials. These must be varied according to circumstances. Commonsense, and the situation of the patient, will suggest the proper manner ofconducting them. Above all, we would recommend perseverance

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