The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-07-06
Restoration of the Apparently Drowned.


others monthly.
Restoration of the Apparently Drowned.
The season for bathing being now on
us, the following instructions for the res
toration of the apparently drowned may
be appropriately published, and we would
| advise persons residing near the water,
in particular, to preserve them. They
are based on the methods ofDr. Marshall
Hall and DR.. II. r. Sylvester, and were
published last year by the Royal Life
boat Institution, of London, in the form
OF largesheet with wood-cuts, and extern
slvely posted and distributed in England.
In this connection we may be permit
ted to remark that it is much to be re-
GREETED that the city authorities have
interdcted bathing in practically all
parts of the river, thus debarring our
youth from q healthy amuseI nent, and
from the opportunity of learning to
swim. Surely safe and convenient places
might be assigned for the purpose as in
other cities.
DIRECTIONS.
1. Send Immediately for medical assis-
lance, blankets, dry clothing; but in the
meantime treat the patient instantly ON
the spot, in the open air, with the face
downward; exposing the face, neck and
chest to the wind, except in severe
weather, and removing all tight cloth
ing from the neck and chest, especially
the suspenders.
The points to be aimed at are, first, and
Immediately, therestorotton ofbre0tting;
and, secondly, after breathing is restored,
the promotion of a0QrnaM and circuLa-
ton.
| The first must be done Immediately
and theoretically, and persevered in for
| an hour or two, or until medical man
has pronounced life extinct. The Sc
cond, beyond removing the wet clothes
md drying the skin, must not be made
until the first appearance of natural
breathing, otherwise it would endanger
The restoration Oh life.
2. TO restore breathing. Place the
patient on the floor or ground, with tho
ace downwards and one of the arms un-
| Ter the forehead, in which position all
| tuids will more readily escape from the
mouth, and the tongue itself will fall
forward, leaving the entrance of the
windpipe free. Wipe and cleanse tho
mouth from mud, &c. If satisfactory
Breathing commences, use the treatment
described below for promoting warmth.
1.-THE breathing is imperfect, or fails,
then, to e1cite breathing, turn the patient
we'll and instantly on his side, support
ing the head, and excite the nostrils with
snuff, heartshorne, &C., or tickle the
throat with a feather, rub the face and
chest warm, and dash cold water, or
cold and hot water alternately on them.
| If there be no success, lose not O mo-
ment, but, instantly, to initiate bre0th-
ing, replace the Patient on the face,
| raising or supporting the chest well on
| a folded cloth or other art Gle of dress.
Turn the body very gently on the side,
and little beyond, and then br!skly on
the face again. Repeat tits operation
cautiously and perseveringly at the rate
of about fifteen times a minute, OCCASION
ally varying the side. (Placing on the
che:t forces out the air; turning on the
side makes it enter the chest.) Every
time the body is replaced on the face,
press briskly and uniformly on the back,
between and below the shoaIder-blades,
removing the pressure immedi tely be-
fore turning the body on the side.
During the above operations, dry the
hands and feet and strip the body and
reelothe or cover it, but so as not to in
terfere with the efforts to restore breath
ing.
8. Should these efforts not prove sue
cessful in the course Of from two to five
| minutes, proceed to initiate breathing
| by DR.. Sylvester's method, as follows:
Place the patient on the back on flat
surface, inclined little upwards from
the feet; raise and support the shoulders
on small cushion or folded article of
dress placed under the shoulder blades
draw forward the PATIENTS tongue and
keep 1t projecting beyond the lips. An
elastic band or string tied over the tongue
and under the chin will answer the pur-
pose. Remove all tight clothing from
neck and chest, especially the suspend
ers. To initiate the movements OF breath
ina, standing at the patients head grasp
the arms lust above the elbows and draw
them gently and steadily upward above
the head, Keep them stretched upward
for two seconds; (by this means air is
drawn into the lungs y then turn down
the patients arms and press them gent.
I ly and firmly for two seconds against the
| sides of the chest. (By this means air
is pressed out of the lungs.) Repeat the
operation steadily, at the rate of about
fifteen times in a minute, until spon-
| taneous effort to respire is perceived, i'm
the movements of breathing and pro-
coed to induce circulation and warmth.
4. To promote Udrnath and circulation,
commence to rub the limbs upwards,
with firm, grasping pressure and energy,
using handkerchiefs, fiannels, ETC., thus
propelling the blood along the veins to-
wards the hearty The friction must be
continued under the blanket or over the
dry clothing. Promote the warmth of
the body by the application of hot fan
nels, bottles of hot water, heated bricks,
etc., to the pit of the stomach, the arm
pits, between the thighs, and to the soles
! of the feet. @
| II the patient has been carried to a
house after respiration has been restored,
be carely to let the air play freely about
the room. On the restoration of life,
give a teaspoonful of warm water, and II
the power of swallowing has returned,
small quantities of wine, warm brandy
and water, or coffee. Keep the patient
in bed and encourage sleep.
The above treatment should &c perse-
vered in for some hours, as tits an erro-
ueous opinion that persons are irrecovera-
Ole because life does not soon make its
appearance, persons having been restor-
| ri m q T1 " hn1lra