The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-01-02
SOMETHING OF IMPORTANCE TO
MEN WHO WORK AMONG
THE WIRES.
some QUITE TIMELY INSTRUCTIONS.
Treatment of the Shock Must Be Prompt.
Caution to Be Used by Those
Helping to Rescue the
Victim.


works procured report from the
Academy of Medicine and one from his
departmental committee on electrical
matters, on the subject of what should
be done in case of an apparently fatal
accident through coming in contact with
electric wires. He then issued cir
cular to all the projects throughout
France, directing them to give the CON
tents the widest possible publicity, and
to make them known particularly to all
local authorities, electric station mana
gers, medical men and chemists in the
districts where electricity was in use.
The leading parts of the circular are the
following:
The medical treatment of cases of shock
is the same in all cases, but the measures
to be taken for the preservation of the
patient, or the safety of the helpers, are
different according to whether the cur
rent is continuous or an alternating or
commutated alternating one. Accord
ing to the Academy of Medicine, the vic
tim, even though apparently dead, must
be at once taken, if no longer in contact
with the electric wires, to well aired
place, the number of persons in which
is strictly limited to those whose services
are necessary. The clothes are to be
loosened trousers and open shirt, and
as promptly as possible you try to re-
establish the respiration (as in the case
of persons apparently drowned) by
rytlfmically pulling the tongue or by ar
tifcial respiration, and the circulation by
rubbing the surface of the body, by whip
ping the trunk with the hands, or with
wet napkins, throwing cold water on the
inan To I'D l,xyl ,,,.,,
ammonia or vinegar to the nose.
The method for tongue pulling is to
open the mouth. using force by any con-
venient means, if necessary, as by the
handle of knife or a piece of wood; to
grasp the tongue solidly, preferably with
the aid of a pocket handkerchief to pre-
vent slipping; to pull the tongue forward,
firmly and rythmically, letting it slacken
after each pull about 20 times a minute,
and keep this up for half an hour, an
hour, or more. The method for arti-
back, shoulders slightly raised, mouth
open, tongue free; grasp the arms at the
elbows. squeeze them firmly against the
chest. then separate them and bring them
back to their former position at the sides
of the chest. Repeat this about 20 times
a minute, and keep it up until natural
is restored. 1t is better to
begin, in every case, with the tongue pull
ing, and, if possible, carry on the arti-
fetal respiration at the same time.
If the victim is still in contact with the
wires the salvor must, before doing the
above, get him away from these. But
in order to do that he must himself take
certain precautions. For example, he
must avoid touching him with the bare
hands, and must wear thick gloves of
dry stuff-linen or flannel of sufficient
thickness; and he must not lay hold of
the person by any wet or moist part of
his body, as by his feet or under his
arms, 1t may be necessary to cut the
wires in order to free the body. But
this is entirely inadmissable in the case
of continuous currents on account of the
risk to the cutter occasoned by the
spark or extra current on breaking cir
cult. 1t Is not so with alternating or
alternating currents. In
that case the wire may be cut without
danger; but it is necessary to cut the
wire on both sides of the victim in order
to be sure that the cutting is really of
use.
The circular goes on to give directions
for putting up the above instructions
upon the poles, where there are any.