The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1858-10-19 00:00:00

HEALTH AND DISEASE.

PROSAIC AClD.—With a view to complete the theory
of anaetheties, M. Ozanain some time ago instituted a
series of experiments on prussic, or hydrocyanic, acid in
a &Aeons date, the result' of which he has now laid
before the Academy of Sciences. His chief object was
the demonstration of this general law—vie., that all
volatile or gaseous matter having carbon for one of its
constituents has antesthetio properties in proportion to
the carbon it contains, and this law is verified in the
highest degree by hydrocyanic acid. In its most concen-
trated state death, of course, is instantaneous, but when
diluted in the ratios of 1 to 5, 1 to 20, 1 to 40, or 1 to
100 its effeds are of various intensity. The temperature
must be taken into account, since prussic acid boils at
27 deg. centigrade (806 Fahrenheit) and emits vapour"
in proportion to the heat of the weather ; M. Osanam's
experhnents were therefore conducted under tempera-
tures of between 5 dog. and 10 deg. centigrade (41 and
50 Fahrenheit.) If attenuated to 1.40 th, hydrocyanic
add produces, when inhaled, much the sante degree of
anaesthesia as oxyde of carbon, and at 1-Ith that of
carbonic acid; but this state cannot be prolonged, se in
the ease of the latter—the inhalation must be stopped
the moment the first signs of the action of the acid ap-
pear. The animel being then left to itself, the three
stages of anresthesia—vie., exeitation, collapse, and a
return tooonsoiousness, succeed each other as usual. But
if the inhalatione be continued to the second period of
coma, death is the inevitable consequence. The stage of
excitement is marked b such violent tetanie shooks that
the animal le o o d ,to a distance of eeveral
„ wink,
is interrupted by muscular oontractions This state
lasts from VO to 110 second., when the collapse am-
mencos ; the eyeballs are rapidly dilated, the eyes pro-
trude from their sockets, and all the members are
paralysed. But while sharp instruments and hard blows
are unavailing to rouse the animal from its state of in-
sensibility, a slight shock is often eurildent to reuse a
renewal of the convulsions. During this period the
action of breathing only manifests itself by hiccups at
long intervals; the put/Miens of the heart are rare and
weak, By dimwit, if too large a quantity of the acid
has not been inhaled, the circulation becomes more rep.
lar, and there only remain; SR anresthetie slumber,
which lute from It to 15 minutes. After this there Is a
slow return to sensibility ; the animal begin, to move its
fore legs lint and its hint legs afterwards, and about 25
minutes after the omitinomieniunt of the experiment it
Merits to its previous normal state, When death Item
been produced by exemielve Inhalation the blood on open.
lug the body la found to be blank, but it soon turn. rod
again In the air. The smelt of bitter almonds, which the
body at first exhilee, cllamppeere ID a short time, and no
trace of the SOW can be discovered by any test. Prueslo
acid would therefore he the only poison producing death
without being traceable, were it omit that the iniormoope
shows the primitive nervous tube. broken in various
places Bontetimen, she, the larynx and trachea are
slightly Mama Al, Osanain concludes hlo paper by
stating flint oxygen is an effectual antodeto against
prussic mild. Until respiration is entirely 'dapped
!I men may be sitooessfully administered by inhalation
bitt it inmost be actinhilatered fur 10 or 19 minutia at least,
else the symptom. reappear.

TIIII4TAIIINT TIIII ATPAIINTLY DROWNIIO.—The
following inetructions for the reeneellation of the ap.
patently drowned have helm extensively °initiated by
the liatkinal LifeboAl Instillation throughout the king.
dom and our colonies. Thef oontain the Wed die.
°overkill on this linportane soli eel, the Institution having
taken great pain' to obtain the opinion of the niedleal
profeseion generally both at house and on the continent
on the comparative merit. of this and the antiquated
plan hitherto adopted in this country, Of thenOB
cal num, mine of thein representing medical bodice, who
give the society their opinion cm the auhivet, 254 were
entirely lit favour of the new method, 10 were on the
elite of the old plan, and 811 were ondsoliled, It should
be stated that the leading prinolplem of the ineernetione
are those of the eminent physlologiet, the late Dr, liar.
shall —"l.Hell Trait the patient instantly on the
NpOS, in the open air, ',wooing the Ws And sheet to the
breves (axone in severe weather). LTo clear the
throat, place the patient gently No downwards, with
mte wrial under Ofie forehead, In which position all hide
will peep, by the mouth, and the tongue Itself will fall
forward's, leaving the entrance Into the windpipe free.
/twist thie operating bylwiping and Gleaming the mouth,
If there lie breathing—wail and wateli If there be no
breathing, or if It fall, then—to mite respiration-8.
Turn the patient well and Inetantly on the We,. and I.
Exciite the nostrils with snuff, harteliorn, volatile salt.,
or the throat with a feather, ko., and dealt sold water
on the face, previously rubbed warm, if there be no
success, tom not a moment, but fluently, to imitate
respiration—B, Replete the patient on tits fees, relying
And supporting the chest well on a folded seat or other
artiele of dress, 8. Turn the body very gently, on the
side and a little beyond, and then briskly on the face,
alternately repeating these, measures deliberately, efil.
°lonely, and perseveringly about 13 times In the minute.
or every four seconds, ocentsionally varying the side,
(Hy Owing the patient on the chest it Is compressed by
the weight of the body, and expiration taiga plata ;
when turned on the eide this promure is removed, and
inspiration mum) 7. On each occasion that the body
is replaced on the We make uniform but efficient prefi-
gure with brisk movement, on the bask between and
below the shoulder-blades or bones on each side, remov-
ing the pressure im,nediately Ware turning the body on
the side. (The Arse measure increases the expiration,
the second oommenees inspiration.) The result ii
respiration or natural breathing ; and, if not too late,
life. 8. After respiration has been restored, promote
the warmth of the body by the application of hot-flannels,
bottles, or bladders of hot water, heated bricks, ko., to
the pit of the stomach, the arm-pits, between the thighs,
and to the soles of the feet. To induce circulation and
warmth—O. During the whole time do not cease to rub
the limbs upwards, with firm grasping pressure and
with energy, using handkerchiefs, flannels, Am. (By
this measure the blood is propelled along the vein. to-
wards the heart.) 10. Let the limbs be thus warmed
and dried, and then clothed, the bystanders supplying
the requisite garments. Cautions.-1. Send quickly for
medical assistance and for dry clothing 2. Avoid all
rough usage and turtling the body on the back. S.
Under no cireolustances held up the body by the feet ;
4. Nor roll the body on casks 5. Nor rub the bod
with salt or spirits. 6. Nor inject tobsooo smoke or in-
fusion of Wilma. 7. Avoid the oontintions warm bath.
8. Be particularly careful to prevent persons crowding
around the body. General observations.—On the re-
iteration to life a teaspoonful or warm water should be
given, and then, if the power of swallowing li II returned,
small quantities of wine, or brandy and water, warm, or
coffee. The patient should be kept in becl, and a
disposition to sleep enbouraged, The treatment reaorn.
mended should be persevered in for a considerable time,
as it is an erroneous opinion that persona are Irreoover•
able became life does not loon make its appearance,
oases having been successfully treated after persevering
several bourn. _

POWDERING ARAD BODIIIII,—A public experiment of
the preeervatlen of deed bodies by Faloony's Petent
Powder will take pima) thia dayjnieedeY) 4,1 1 e'Llee,h,
at the School of Hedloins, ormeinee'Pleee. "Le'
perk, adjoining Bt. George'e Hospital. At which mem"
of the inedloal profile/don, undertekers, and ethers In.
lesseled are invited to attend, end will be edmitted on
presenting their cards, It ie then to be seen that a deed
body, which will then have boone month In the powder,
kept in an open onffin In 6 room, presents no offenelve
smell i and as will be shown, Is In an inilnitely.better
Mate than it was when Aril inhieetett to the
the powder.