The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1895-02-02

a0OoGA ID oA1y dppdIeuL, Ill OtuSI WOIOS,
animation is merely suspended. The
subject may be aroused from this syn
cope IT efforts at resuscitation are not
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.
To say that a person has received a
shock from a. wire conveying a current
of q. 600 :sor. 1000 volts does not neces-
ssirny 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 resistance
of several thousand ohms, which resist
ance is greatly increased by imperfect
contact and by charring and 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 and does not enter the body. This
may explain the survival Of some who
have apparently withstood very power
fCl 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 counteracted.
All things considered, It is rational
to attempt the resuscitation Of those
apparently killed by electricity, md If
not too long delayed the effort promises
fair chances Of success, provided prop
er measures are instituted.
If the body has actually been sub
mitted to a current of sufficient volume
to produce destructive tissue changes,
all efforts at reSuScitatOn will, OF
course, be futile.
If, on the other hand, only respiration
and the hearts action have been tenn
porarily arrested, there is a condition
of syncope Stimulating apparent death
by drowning. Or from anaesthedcs, 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 Cn2
Of exaggerated faint and would not feel
appalled, upon encountering it If pre-
viously instructed how to cope with it.
In an ordinary fairting spell the neces-
sity to stimulate is universally appre-
ciated. In syncope resulting from an
electric shock stimulation is likewise
Indicated, but more vigorous measures
are required. This is the only differ
ence. .a>.~.
: As said above, the direction to treat
one shocked by electricity as one drown
/ ed may be misleading, as the concep-
ton Of the layman Of the necessities
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 and
most powerful stimulatant which can
be employed is artificial respiratio
The man must be made to breathe, If
I this is possible, and efforts to induce
respiration must not be suspended un-
til breathing is fully and normally re-
stored or until it is absolutely certain
that life is extinct. This can not be
assured in less than an hours persist
ent, energetic, tireless effort. 81.
To Induce Respiration
The accompanying illustration viii