Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-07-03
SUSPENDED ANIMATION.


included all those cases OF apparent death In
pirate remedies, the patient may be restored to
vitality and health. The simplest form of sus.
pended animation is that seen in fainting, when
rom the effects OF neat or over exertion COM
becomes pale. falls down insensible and appears
scarcely to breathe. The admission of fresh air
Is OF me flrst importance, and she should be In
med1ately placed near an open window and In
the IecumDent position, so that the flow of blood
10 the mead may be accelerated At the same
IlLne any tfghtness OF dress should De at once
Temedled and a little cold water sprinkled In the
race. The use of smelling salts is OCCASIONALLY
OF service In rousing patient. but care must be
taken not to apply them too vigorously. for fear
OF Irritating The nose. II, as sometimes happens
fainting fit Is only the prelude to a fit of hys-
leflcs, the patient should be thoroughly reused
oy the 1ree application OF cold water so soon as
eae NJ sterlcal sobbings begin to show them
SeiIes, ana brisk walk up and down the room
DetWeen Two not too svmpathzing friends VIII
then probably avert a domestic catastr3Dhe
Wnlch Is always annoying to all concerned. Per-
sons with feeble circthat ion. and therefore,
more llaDle 10 faintneSS, may be glad to knoE
that they can often avert fafntlng fit whea
sDey feel IL coming on by at once lying down
this is impossible, then bowling the head well
down on the knees will have the same effect.
DROWNING CASES.
Drowning is the most common cause of SnrI-
GUS suspended animation, and as accidents may
happen at any moment every well-educa ed
person should know what to do on the emer-
gency. In cases OF drowning every moment is
OF Importance, and the attempts at resuscita-
ton should. therefore, be begun as soon az the
sufferer is drawn from the water and without
conveying him any long distance TO house.
The great object of treatment is to rouse the
heart by inducing respiration as In the case Of
faintiDg. and If all efforts at this have ceased re-
course must be had at once to ''arJricia respira-
ton by the following method known as ''syl-
westerns" The mouth being cleared OF any dirt
or saliva which may be In the tongue should
oe araWn forward and held with the
finger and thumb, or secured With a piece
OF ribbon or an elastic band passed over
the tongue and under the Chin. This draw
ing forward OF the tongue Is very i'm
poTtant, as 1t opens the windpipe and must
never pc omitted. The patient being then laid
On his back, with the shoulders and head Slight
ly raised, the operator kneels behind his head
grasps the arms just above the elbows and
draws them steadily and gently upwards until
they meet above the head. BY this means the
walls OF the chest are expanded and air is
drawn into the lungs, and a second or two
should De allowed for this to take place. TIE
operator should then lower the patients arms
TO bis side and press them against his chest 50
as 10 force out the air from the lungs and thus
initiate respiration. This series of movements
ShCuid be repeated twenty times a minute
not more-and the time should be taken
from the watch OF a byStander, or IL will
Ce round In practice that anxiety Will lead
10 To-, hurry and consequent damage. AS it
VIII ne impossible for one person to keep up tue
eXertlon necessary for many minutes from the
fatigue consequent upon IL he should be re-
neVed as often as may be necessary by another.
who should have watched and learnt the meth,
Cd or proceeding; but 1T is important that Ill
directions should be given by one person. siace
CONFUSION and delay are sure otherwise to occur
nllSt Efforts al restoring respiration are being
thus increasingly carried out the attention OF
other assistants should be given to restoring the
Waifnth OF the body OF the drowned person BY
removing wet clothes. applying hot blankets and
bottles and by using friction assiduollsly to the
nmtS IN an upward direction. so as to favor the
noW OF blood toward the heart. The utility OF a
ana should only be resorted to when the patient
is suffering from extreme cold Even In this
case 1t is well to dash cold water over the face
a St cnest, so as TO excite respiration and the
use OF the warm bath should not be continued
more IMAM I'VE minutes without medical SAM
tlOn. Efforts at TeSuscitation should be con
IlilueO LOT at least a hour, even ia unfavoraole
cases, unless. Indeed, a medical man is able TO
certify that the sufferer is undoubtedly dead
PATIENTS recovered from drowning generally re-
qulre careful after-treatment for few DAYS bat
tendant.
FOR GASES AND so ON.
suspended animation from foul gases Is most
commonly met with in connection with brew
efleS, where the carbOnic acid gas is apt TO
collect In the large watts used for brewing or
Ia wells, where the same gas collects and is
dangerous to any workman descending to
repair pump tubes, etc. AS In these accidents
several lives are often unnecessarily sacrifi ,ed
ID the well,meant but ignorant efforts made
10 rescue the first sufferer 1t may not be out
method OF dispensing the noxious gases and
removing thOSe who are suffering from their
Innuehce. When one man has fallen tnsen-
slole under the Influence of the carbonic acid
IL is SIMPLY suicide for another to attemor to
rescue MIN Without proper precautions. These
consist IN having strong rope securely fastened
round bis waist, so that he may be drawn up at
once II overcome and another similar rope 10 b.
carried In the hand and to be attached to the
Irst Nlcllm The mouth and nose Should b,
thoroughly mu1f1ed with WOODEN comforter or
handkerchlef, and the reScuer should breathe as
SCION s as ne can while attaching the rope to his
Ialeh cOmrade II Insufficient assistance Is AT h4nd
EFFORTS should at the same time be made to dis
perSe the Ib0nic acid gas by throwing dogn
buckets or water. By this means the ordinary
atmospheric air will TO certain degree be mixed
WIN the deleter1ous vapor. which. being heavy.
lne potion OF VAT, If such Can be rapidly made
oy opening a trap or cutting out a plank A
garceE engine and hose, If at hand NAV be
USED 10 pump fresh air to the sufferers and a
nre engine, IL obtainable. would be a still more
enclenl instrument When the sufferer is at
last placed III safety every effort must be made
10 ESTABLISH respiration In the manner already
explained under the head of drowning IL is
luOst important that free access OF fresh air
should be allowed 10 him by avoiding all crowd
ihg oI anxious relations and friends around the
patient. 'A'
Cases OF tnsensibflity from fntoxicatton or
poisoning Should be seen by medical man a.
carry as possible. No harm, however can M
zone In any case by inducing vomiting. ans; this
is most readily accomplished by tickling the in
teTlor OF the throat with feather II the patient
is unapie 10 swallow or If he is able by the adj
mlD1Sfral1on OF an emetic OF warm mustard and
wafer All construction about the neck AMI
cheSl should be removed aud the patient placed
on lis Side With the head slightly raised,