Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-06-28
In CASES OF DROWNING.
What q Washington Physician Says
About What Should be Done.

ABOUT w NAT SnOutu De lone,
Asian reporter, in talking with a vell-known
physician of this city concerning recent cases
of drowning reported in the Potomac and
canal, picked up some very valuable sugges-
tions about rendering prompt aid under such
circumstances.
"a great deal has been said and published
by way OF advice" said he, ''but not more than
should be. Indeed, too much cannot be said
nor advice too often published, for with the
| numerous excursions from Washington down
the river and to the seashore the danger of
drowning is constant and cases common. A
large portion of the deaths reported could
have been averted by following simple, practi-
| cal plans of resuscitatlon had there been any
one present who knew what to do II news
papers like The STAR" he earnestly urged
which are read by everybody, would frequently
publish articles on the subject, even If they
had TO republish the same thing, which. how
ever, is not at all necessary, they would be the
direct cause of saving the lives of many of the
victims. gather everything can upon this
and kindred subjects in the line of accidents,
such as falnting, burns, sunstrokes, &c.
HOW PEOPLE ARE DROWNED,
Drowning" said the doctor, lis the result
Of one of two conditions. One is from the
shock of the accident producing heart failure
OF lalntlnS. Inc Otner Is where the un1Ortu-
nate has fought against fate and has been suf-
located by taking water into the lungs and
| stomach. The first condition is shown by the
pale, ashy and fabby appearance of an ordi-
nary case of fainting and the other by livid,
dark coiored look OF suffocation. Too many
people imagine that when person has been
taken from the water after sinking the last
time that life is extinct for good and oil, but
this is not the case. Many have been taken
out some time after disappearance and brought
to life again by simple, practical means, while
others have been taken out under similar con-
ditions and the remaining germs of life al
lowed to slip away when they could have been
saved
WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT.
"When person is taken from the water
within anything like reasonable length Of
time loosen everything about the neck, chest
and waist, wipe out the mouth and throat
thoroughly, as far as possible, with handker-
chief, roll up coat any thing and lay the
body face downward, the chest and upper part
OF the stomach upon the bundle and the fore
head resting upon the forearm near the wrist.
Make firm pressure between and below the
shoulders to force any water out of the lungs
and stomach. Then turn the body on the back
and if the appearance is from fainting fasten
the tongue in the front OF the mouth by hold
ing it with dry cloth or by slipping rubber
band over it and the lower Jaw or do anything
that will hold it and keep it from falling back
| into the throat to prevent breathing. eau
tiously pass ammonia under the nose. if at
hand, or tickle the nose or mouth with some
| thing, dash cold water in the face suddenly, or
| slap the face sharply. The object Of this is to
| produce gasp, when which is done continue
the ammonia carefully or the slapping of the
face. When breathing is established proceed
| with promotion of warmth and circulation by
application of hot water bottles or something
| very hot well wrapped to prevent burning the
| SKIN. Hot sand bags or warm, dry blankets
| will answer.
"After rubbing the limbs upward toward the
heart to encourage the venous blood to return
| to Its source the careful administration of stim-
| ulants is in order. This should be about tea
| spoonful OF whisky in q tablespoonful of hot
| water every few minutes until taken six or
| eight times. Do not move the patient, if pos
| slble, until strength is well established, and
only then so far as Is absolutely necessary.
| WHEN DROWNED FROM sUFFoCATIoy.
"When the victim has been drowned by
suffocaton there are two ways by which arti
fetal respiration may be produced One is
known as the Marshall Hall and the other al
| the Sylvester method.
THE MARSHALL HALL METHOD
is as follows: Proceed as in case of fain,
drowning until the water has been run out Of
| the body Several should assist The body
should then be turned over say three-fourths
! around to the left and returned to its face.
downward position. Put considerable pressure
with the hands on the backsix inches below the
| shoulders; remove pressure suddenly and roll
| the body over on left side again and back
| Continue this process at the rate of about
| fifteen to a minute for ten minutes and then
stop to see il there is any effort on the part OF
the patient to breathe. If so, encourage by the
| face slapping or ammonia applied as directed
If the breathing does not begin keep the move.
| ment up for hours, occasionally varying from
| left to right side. Persons have been resuscita
| ted after four or five hours of Inconsistencies
| When breathing is established proceed as il
| case OF faint drowning. to stimulate the system
| produce warmth and encourage circulation. Il
| a person is not absolutely stiff when taken from
the water there is a chance of resuscitation.
| THE SYLVESTER METHOD
is to proceed as in other ways to get the watel
from the stomach and then to lay the patient
on the back with the bundle under the bach
below the shoulders, which viii throw the
| chest well forward. Then, kneelng at the
| head, one should take both arms just below the
| elbows and draw them back over the head
| nearly to the ground: then return arm to place
| Oh chest and ribs and make firm pressure.
| Suddenly remove pressure and repeat move
| ment for ten minutes, 10 times TO the minute.
| Stop then and see if any breathing takes place.
| If not, do not give up the case for hours. Too
| many people have been lost by giving up toe
| soon.
| UNDER OTHER CONDITIONS.
"The same treatment can be successfully
administered in cases of gas poisoning, at
tempted suicide by hanging or chloroforming,
or when breathing has suddenly ceased from
| any unknown cause. In all cases of accident
send for "a physician and go TO work as above
| suggested. In cases of drowning also order al
once dry clothes and blankets and materials
| for hot applications, but don't wait momen,
| for anything-go to work as outliped-the
great object being to get start in the right
! direction.
If every reader of The STAR" said the
| doctor, would cut this advice out as published
and keep it at hand or study the lines laid down
many who are allowed to die could be saved.
| Some years ago you printed some valuable in
tervews with DR.. Gardner of the Washington
Barracks nearly in the same line, which re-
ceWed great deal of favorable comment. and
now as cases of drowning are almost daily re-
| ported the subject is an interesting and i'm
| portant one to discuss through your columns "
| After the Fourth of July.
| We put him to bed in his little nightgown,
| The worst battered youngster there was In the