Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-03-13
Drowned Persons Not Dead.

The New York Post has for two days given
It's most prominent columns to the develop
ment OF the theory of T. s. Lambert
that drowned persons are not dead but
are simply In state Of Information, aud
that the rev1ving agency Is heat. The
directions put forth for restoring the drowned
and those otherwise sufocated are ia substance
these: 1t must first be appreciated that per-
son recently drowned is not dead. and will not
be for long time. When he Is taken from the
water turn his face down for a moment only,
to allow any water In his nose or throat to run
out; then place him. out of currents of air. upon
bis back, with his head very slightly raised. Do
not roll him upon BARREL nor do anything else
to get the water out OF his lungs" since there
Is none in them; nor out of his stomach, since
what he has swallowed will not do any harm
Quickly determine whether he must be carried
to where heat is, or II 1T can better be brought
to or produced near him. II the former, take
him gently, quickly and as near as possible in
the above said posture. If there must be delay
In applying heat and dry proteetives can be
had, take OF his wet clothes and wrap the dry
articles about him to prevent loss OF heat, COW
ering the head particularly. The warm under
clothing OF bystanders can be contributed.
Several thickneSses OF almost anything attain
able Is better than one.
AS soon as heat Is at hand apply 1t as inge-
nufty and circumstances suggest to be most
likely to quickly and thoroughly warm
the body. When that is accomplished theory
and fact agree in assuring us that, II life yet per-
sisfs, the heart will begin TO beat, happily soon
followed by breathing, both feebly and un-
frequently at first, but more strongly and
faster until they become natural, when con-
seriousness viii return. II the heart gives one
beat, or the lungs one gasp, no more need be
done; keep the person warm and he will soon
be '.all right"
SuffOcati0n In any other manner should be
treated In the same way, except that In choking
and In stranglfng the substances causing these
conditions should be first removed; and In case OF
breathing poisonous gas, or smoke, artificial res
piration should first be tried until the gas or
smoke has been changed for good air In the lungs.
1t Is maintained In defence Of this theory that
animation, sleep, Information and drowning are
only different stages Of positive life, merely
more or less dormant Ia the last three states
named. Provisions for Information are cOnSti-
tut1onal In some, and for recovery from injuries
In all animals; sis it then extrayagant to sug-
gest that In case Of drowning active life is more
than wisely suspended In anticipation of res
toratton? The closed windpipe protects the
lungs, respiration ceases, the blood every where
stops In its course, as soldier on a march halts
at the word. but ready to move On; while In
heart stops, nearly empty themselves. Thus
quiet reigns throughout the body, which,
though mistaken for the calm Of death. Is
merely the suspension OF active life, tending
most essential then, of all thlngs-to retard
the loss OF heat, especially from the internal
organs OF the head and trunk
Whatever may be thought OF the Information
theory, the author seems to pretty successfully
establish the fact that no water gets into the
lungs In drowning. III there did, as there IS no
way by which 1t could be got out soon enough
to be useful, death would occur In every case.
But some persons have been restored after being
under water a long time and when no effort
was made TO exhaust water. Again, the whole
structure and action OF the breathing apparatus
deny the possibility that water can '.get into
the lungs They have been made to receive
air and TO resent the access OF water.
In conclusion, number OF cases are given In
which drowned" persons have been restored
by the application of heat. The theory Is GER
tain TO attract no little attention.