Milford chronicle., 1891-05-29

The Two ways That Air Is Pumped Int
the Lungs OF People Almost Dead

The Two Ways That Air IL Pumped Int
the Lungs Of People Almost Dead.
Some startling results Of artificial respir-
alton, or at least so claimed, were extern
sively reported through eastern papers,
giving an account Of how a Buffalo wom-
an, who had taken morphine with suicidal
intent. had been miraculcusly restored 70
life by this alleged new medical discovery
However, artificial respiration is not a re
cent discovery Of medical science, though
comparatively new methods Of producing
it appear to have been used in treating the
patient in question. When the physician
arrived at the bedside Of the unfortunate
woman he found life almost extinct.
Apparently the action Of the heart and
lungs had ceased, but by device used
whereby air was pumped into the system
and out again It was observed that the pa
TENTS heart and lungs soon resumed work,
and finally the woman recovered
Artificial respiration is resorted to IN
most instances in cases of threatened death
from drowning, morphine poisoning, IN
halation Of poisonous gases or other causes
that act bv temporarily choking or inter
fering with the function Of breathing.
But in the case reported from Buffalo
the bellows system OF Dr. Richardson, Of
London, was apparently used. A pocket
bellows was devised by him which may be
employed as means Of forcing air into
the lungs. This bellows consists of two
elastic bulbs terminating into one single
tube. The tube is inserted into one OF the
nostrils, and the other nostril and the
mouth being closed, air may be driven into
the lungs by COMPRISING one Of the bulbs
and withdrawn by COMPRISING the other
Thus it viii be seen that an ingenious
imitation Of natural respiration has been
devised. The entrance Of air into the
esophagus, when the method just de
scribed is practiced may be prevented by
pressing the larynx upward and back
ward.
Two conditions are essentially necessary
to the successful application Of artificial
respiration. First, an unobstructed passage
for the entrance of air to the lungs. and
second. there must be an absence Of all
obstacles to the free expansion Of the chest
walls.
But the ideas Of the local physicians ap-
pear to be against this method, which Is
looked upon at all times as rather a dan
aerous proceeding and being resorted to IN
only very extreme cases. Great danger, It
is claimed, hes in the liberation Of the lung
tissues. The normal respiration of an adult
is about eighteen times a minute, and such
means would not likely be resorted to ex'
cent where the respiration had fallen to six
or eight.
But a great majority Of physicians Of to-
day resort to far more simple and less
dangerous methods of producing artificial
spiration-namely, byquick and repeated
elevation and lowering of the arms. The
Datienu, with all tight clothing removed
is placed on his back on a fiat surface, his
head and shoulders being supported by a
garment folded into broad cushion.
When the mouth is cleared from all for
eign substances the tongue is drawn for
ward and made fast to the chin by piece
of tape or string tied around it and the
lower jaw. Next the physician or assist
ant, kneeling at the patients head, grasps
the arms at the elbows, and carries them
first outward and then upward till the
hands are brought into contact with each
other above the head. They are kept in
this position for two seconds, after which
they are brought slowly back to the sides
of the thorax and pressed gently against ii
for two seconds. These movements are
gently and deliberately repeated fifteen
times in q minute until spontaneous et
fort to breathe is made, or until it is evl
dent that further exertion is useless.
What is called mouth to mouth imitation
is a method of practicing artificial respira
ton, sometimes adopted in cases Of great
urgency as a temporary expedient till more
efficient measures may be instituted. Sucf
practices are particularly resorted to II
cases of children under six months of ag'
in consequence Of the weak and inelasti'
condition of their chest walls.-Seattle Tel
a0ranh