The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-09-12
SEPTEMBER II, 1873.
Miscellaneous,
Restoring the Drown-Dead

When Il student at Tuscarora
Academy (Penn.) we often heard
the eminent Anatomical Lecturer,
DIR. II. ). Lambert, and our school
boys eyes beheld with wonder, not
unmixed horror, his familiarity with
skulls, skeletons and manikins. The
jovial Doctor argued that if a man
would properly and fully develope
his body by exercise and diet, ETC.,
ne would never become a rascal.
Unfortunately for his own theo-
~ he became president of a Life
Insurance company some years
years ago, and is now in the pcnl-
tentiary for "crookedness in his
accounts. But he knows all that
science teaches about the human
frame: and the following will be
read with interest.
Ed. +. & NJ.
As Il spectator only | witnessed
the restoration of the man hanged.
Electricity was the only means
used I'm his restoration. | think
that his heart had ceased to beat
more than two minutes before he
WAS given into the hands Of the
physicians to whom he had sold
his body for the tobacco that he
wanted to use while in prison. In
his case there was evidently mere
~suifocation. There was not a di-
rect fall, and the effect upon his
brain was not sufficient to cause
conclusion. The rope apparently
produced the effect Of strangulation
only. BY the way it is not proba
bic that the neck is ever broken by
the falling of the person hanged.
Death is then caused usually by
conclusion of the brain. In case
of stlf-hanging conclusion is rare.
There is usually only strangulation,
and resuscitation should be tried
in the same way as in a case of
drowning. SO also IN case of suf-
location from smoke, carbonic acid
or other gas, from the pressure of
Il crowd or of falling buildings or
cavimg earth, provided there has
been no injury from blows or 9th
crwi.e except suffocation. In all
these cases there are the same three
factors tending to induce Death.
Mark these words: Death does not
occur for some time after it is sup
posed to be produced III these cases
The first factor is the cessation of
breathing; the second, the cessation
of heart beating and of the circula-
ton of blood; the third factor is the
cooling of the body, which of
course, takes place more rapidly in
cool water than in cool air, and
much more rapidly than in warm
air. In restoration these factors
must be regarded in the reverse or
der. First see to warming the body
the heating o. which will, by acting
on the nervous centres, excite, Cir
culation, the effect of which will
he to excite the respiration; for as
respiration ceases before circulation
in drowning, so does circulation
commence before respiration in re-
SuscitatIon.
In case of water, smoke or other
substances tending to enter the
the windpipe, it is closed and no
such substances are admitted. This
is an involuntary act, the upper
part of the windpipe rising against
the under back part of the tongue,
as when Il person swallows food or
drink. No water, therefore, can
pass into the lungs in case of
drowning, nor is there any there.
Therefore no effort should be made
to pour it out; but the person
should be laid down gently, without
his head hanging down, and with
out rolling him on a barrel or using
any other rough treatment. If he
has been sutfocated only a few
minutes, Il smart slap or two upon
the shoulders, a dash of a glass of
water in the face, or a tickling of
any part of the body may excite the
nervous centres, then the circula-
ton, then respiration, and thus in
duce restoration. But if the body
has begun to lose heat, hasty pre-
paration should be made, IN the
best manner the circumstances will
permit, to warm the person. II
heat Is not near, and cannot b.
produced on the spot, take the per.
son where it can be had as soon rs
possible, and begin to apply it as
soon and as thoroughly as possible
If there be hot water and blankets.
wrap the body in them. and keel