The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1894-09-27

death is only apparent; in other words, {
animation is merely suspended. The |
subject may be aroused from this syn i
cope if efforts at resuscitation are not i
too long delayed.
The alternating current, which is
usually regarded as the most deadly, |;
strange to say, nearly always produces
death in this second manner.
10 say that a person has received a !
shock from wire conyeying a current
of 1000 or 5000 volts does not neces-
sarily signify that the body has been !
subjected to the full force Of the cur
rent, even if the meter does register
nearly one ampere during the time Of
the accident. In view Of the fact that
the human body offers a resistance
Of several thousand ohns, which resist
| ance is greatly increased by imperfect
contact and by charming ard burning
the tissues Of the point Of application,
| it is not often that the internal struc-
| lures and vital organs are submitted
| to a very considerable volume Of cur
rent, though it apparently passes
| through the body. It must be borne in
mind that when the clothing is moist
with perspiration or wet with rains it
offers a circuit of less resistance than
the human body, and in this event the
| body receives only a shunt current,
very much less in quantity than the
! main current The bulk of current,
! in this instance, passes over the sur
! face aud does not enter the body. This
may explain the survival Of some who
have apparently withstood very )ower-
FIJI currents.
! Seldom Kills Outright.
It must be presumed, therefore, that
| electricity seldoms kills outright, though
The condition of suspended animation
which it induces would result in death
if not counter;lcted.
All things considered, it is rational
to attempt the resuscitation OF those
apparently killed by electricity, md If
not too long de.ayed tie effort promises
fair chances Of success, provided prop
er measures are instituted.
IT the body has actually been sub
mitted to a current Of sufficient volume
to produce destructive tissue changes,
all efforts at resuscitation will, of
course, be futile.
If, on the other hand, only respiration
and the hearts action have been tenn
porarily arrested. there is condition
of syncope Stimulating apparent death
by drowning. or from anaesthetlcs, and
the physician knows that patients in
this condition are frequently revived:
Laymen will appreciate the nature OF
this condition if it is explained as enc
of exaggerated faint and would not feel
appalled, upon encountering it II pre-
viollsly instructed how to cope with it
In an ordinary fairting spell the neces-
sity to stimulate is universally appre
! GATED. In syncope resulting from an
| oh ecfip 11f
, | indicated, but more vigorous measures
, are required This is the only differ
ence.
AS said above. the direction to treat
one shocked by electricity as one drown
cd may be misleading. as the concep
? ton Of the laynan Of the necessities
3 in this case would be to roll the body
on a barrel. Let him understand that
the condition is one Of exaggerated
! faint, that the necessity is for prompt
stimulation, and that the quickest anl
most powerful stimulatant which cal
lie employed is artificial respiration
The man must be made to breathe, il
4 this is possible, and efforts to induce
d respiration must not be suspended I'M
: til breathing is fully and normally re
: stored OF until it is absolutely certain
! that life is extinct. This can not be
assured in less than an hours persist
ent energetic. tireless effort.
:, To Induce Respiration.
The accompanying Illustration will
! serve to make Ineligible the followin;
directions for artificial respiration:
Il The body must be rolled upon tn,
back a roll made Of a coat or an,
: thing else convenient (rolled, not fold
: ed is placed under the shoulders, an,
must be sufficiently large to so prop tn