The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-05-14
ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION.
The Two Ways That Air Is Pumped Into
the Iunrs of peopie Almost Dead,

The Two ways That AIT Is Pumped INTO
the Lungs of People Almost Dead.
Some startling results CT artificial respir-
alton, or at least SO claimed, were extern
sively reported through eastern papers,
giving an account of how Buffalo wou-
al, who had taken morphine with suicidal
intent, had been miraculously restored 10
life By this alleged new medical discovery.
However, artificial respiration Is not re-
cent discovery of medical science, though
comparatively new methods of producing
il 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 a device used
whereby air was pumped into the system
and ont again it was observed that the pa
tents heart andlungs 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 by 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 I've
employed as a 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and withdrawn by COMPRISING the other.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 will 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 10 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 APP
! pear to be against this method, which Is
| looked upon at all times as rather dan
! gerous proceeding and being resorted 10 in
! only very extreme cases. Great danger, 1t
| is claimed lies III the laccration 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-
| cept where the respiration had fallen 10 six
| or eight.
But great majority OF physicians Of to-
| day resort to far more simple and less
dangerous methods of producing artificial
SUPPLEMENTARY, by quick and repeated
elevation and lowering OF the arms. The
patient, with all tight clothing removed,
is placed on his back on a flat surface, his
head and shoulders being supported by a
garment folded into a broad cushion.
When the mouth is cleared from all for
eign substances the tongue is drawn for
ward and made fast 10 the chin by piece
of tape or string tied around it and tho
lower jaw. Next the physician or assist
ant, kneeiing st 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
15aer above the head. They are kept in
TVS position for two seconds, after which
they are brought slowly back TO the sides
OF the thorax and pressed gently against It
for two seconds. These movements are
| gently aud deliberately repeated fifteen
| times in a minute until a spontaneous ef-
| fort to breathe is made. or until II Is eyi-
| dent that further exertion is useless
| What is called mouth TO mouth imitation
! is a method Of pract!cing artificial respira-
ton. sometimes adopted in cases Of great
urgency as a temporary expedient till more
! efficient measures may be instituted. Such
! practices are particularly resorted 70 in
cases OF children under SIX months OF are
! in consequence Of the weak and ineiastic
condition Of their chest walls.-oeattle Tel
! egraph.