The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1828-02-20
This is exemplifed in a variety of

oIiOIgth vi Two men 10 lllL IL, may De HlLeu
In water by one man. There are cases
where the support of water, obtained in this
way, is equivalent to the assistance Of an
additional hand
The invention of the diving bell, in mod
ern times, having enabled men in the build
ing of piers, bridges, &c. to work under
water almost as freely as above its surface,
1t always surprises workmen at first, that
/ they can move much larger and heavier
stones down below than in the air. In re-
/ covering property from suBken ship by
the diving bell, every thing is found to be
lighter in the proportion just stated.
When person lies in a bath extended
horizontally, the limbs are very nearly sup
| ported by the water, without any exertion
on the part Of the individual. If this soft
( est of all beds be INDUCED in for half an
hour or more, on first lifting limb out OF
| the water the party feels surprised at It's
great apparent weight The workers about
diving bells always experience the sensa-
ton now spoken of on returning to the air.
In the sense now explained, water is said
to have 10 weight in water. The least
force will raise bucket of water from the
bottom of a well to the suface of it but if
the bucket be lifted at all farther, the
weight is felt, and just in proportion to the
part of it which is above the surface.
The human body is so much lighter than
water that it naturally floats with bulk Of
about half head above the water; and if
the person is tranquil, the body can no more
sink than log of wood would do. Perhaps
the whole of 20 passengers who were swal
lowed up by the sudden sinking of the Com
ct Steamboat might have been saved, had
they known the truth that we are now ex-
planning, since boats SO soon came to their
assistance. The reasons that so many
people are drowned who might be saved
are the following =
1. Their not knowing that body is
really lighter than water
2. Their believing that continued exer-
ton is necessary to keep the body from
sinking hence the position Of a swimming
man is generally assumed, in which the
face is downwards, and the head must be
kept out of the water to allow of breathing.
Now as man cannot retain this position
without continued eXertion, even if a swim
mer he is soon exhausted, and if not, the
unskilful attempt will scarcely secure for
him few Inspirations. A body raised for
n moment above the natural level by exer-
ton, sinks as far below when the exertion
ceases the pluRges terrifes the unpractis-
ed individual, by appearing to ne the com
mencement of a permanent sinking, and
fear soon makes him an easy victim to his
Z. Persons unaccustomed to the water,
and in danger of drowning, in their struggles
generally attempt to keep their hands a
bove the surface from feeling as if their
I,o rlc Y1-oro fiod ba1otI, b1t tbic is most
pernicious, because any part of the body
kept ont of water, in addition to the face
which must remain above, requires effort to
support it, which the individual is supposed
incompetent to afford.
5. Not having reflected that when log
of wood or a human body is floating upright,
with only small portion above the surface,
in rough water. as at sea, every wave
must cover the head for little time as it
passes, but will again leave it projecting in
the interval The practised swimmer choos
es this interval for breathing.
6. Not knowing the importance of keep
ing the chest as full of air as possible, the do
ing of which has the same effect as tying a
bladder of air on the neck, and without 9th
er effort will cause nearly the whole head
to float above the water. If the chest be
once emptied, and if from the face being
under water the person cannot inhale again,
the body is then specifically heavier than
water, and will sink.
1t was observed, that there was limit to
the depth beyond which divers could not
re-ascend. The following anecdote may
bear upon the same point when a man
dives far, the pressure Of deep water COM
presses or diminishes the bulk of air in his
chest, and hence he becomes really heavier
than water, and would not again rise, but
for the exertion of swimming. The author
once saw sailor a fine bodied West India
negro) fall into the calm sea, from yard
arm, eighty feet high. The velocity was so
/ great, that he shot deep into the water i'm
mediately, and of course, his chest was
compressed as now explained probably the
shock stunned him, for although he was an
expert swimmer, he only moved his arms
! feebly once or twice, and was then seen
gradually sinking for long time after
wards, until he disappeared, as black and
distant speck, descending to the unknown
regions of the dark abyss.