Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-10-19
REsUScITATINo THE DROWNED.

RtSOSClI ATlNG IHE DROWNED.
T.. S. Lambert in letter to the New
York Evening Post describes at some
length the use of heat as reviving agency
in the cases of persons who have been
drowned. He says that one who has
been drowned is not dead, and will not
be in a long time. Animation, sleep, hlber-
nation and drowning are only different
states of positive life, merely more or less
dormant in the last three cases named.
In the event of drowning the windpipe
of the person is closed respiration ceases.
the blood everywhere stops its course,
'as soldier on a march hats at the
word, but ready to move on" Active
life merely is suspended, tending to re-
tard-what is most essential-the loss of
heat, especially from the internal organs
of the head and trunk. Contrary to the
prevalent notion, Lambert says that no
water gets into the lungs of drowned
persons and, moreover, that the cessa-
ton of the heartbeat is not a sign of
death. When person is drowned three
active factors of the well-being of the
body are stopped-breathing circulation
and the production of heat. In resuscita-
ton, the aim must be to restore heat.
then circulation, and finally respiration.
Among the directions which the writer
recommends are the following: When
person is taken out of the water, the
face should be turned down a moment to
allow any water in the nose or throat
to run out; and then without resorting
to rolling on barrel or any of that sort
of thing, place the body. out of currents
of air, on the back with the head slightly
raised, in some warm locality. Then
there must be no delay in taking off the
wet clothes, and wrapping dry articles
about him, covering the head in particu-
lar, to prevent loss of heat. As soon as
a fire can be started apply heat as in
genuity and circumstances suggest to be
most likely to quickly and thoroughly
warm the body. "When that has been
accomplished, theory and fact agree in
assuring us that, if life yet persist, the
heart will begin to beat, happily soon
followed by breathing, both feebly and
unfrequently at first, but more strongly
and faster until they become natural,
when consciousness will return. If 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"
1t is well known that insects, flies for
instance, after remaining hours in liquid,
and to all appearance dead, will revive if
placed where the sun can shine upon
them. In much the same way many
drowned persons mentioned by the writer
were brought to by the heat method.
} DIR. Lynch of New York city restored
man who had been in the water half an
hour, and upon whom operations were
not begun until an hour had elapsed
, from the time of the accident. Strips of
carpet, torn from the floor and soaked
, with hot water, were wrapped about the
, body. The man came to consciousness
in less than an hour. A few years ago u
, man was taken out of the East river,
and having no friends and being appar-
) emily dead, the body was left for several
: hours on plot of grass in the blazing
sun. Then the police took him to the
station house, when it was discovered
a that his heart was beating. a brisk
a rubbing restored him to complete activ-
ity. These instances suggest the painful
. thought that hundreds of persons who
! are drowned every year might have been
r saved if Lambert's method had been
n applied to resuscitate them. The means
!, are simple, can certainly do no harm,
= and are youched for as effective when no
@ other agency can avail.-[Troy Times.