Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1896-01-03
A GREAT INVENTION.
1T PUMPS AIR INTO THE LUNGS so
DYING MEN CAN BREATHE.

A Bellows Worked by the Foot-Invented
by Dr. O'Dwycr-An Authenticated In
stance Of Its Complete Success In New
York Hospital.
Keeping up breathing in a patient
who is unable to breathe for himself is
the latest triumph of medicine The dis
covery or invention Of this method was
made by New York physician, Dr.
O'Dwyer. It has been possible with
its aid to maintain the respiration in
the case of patients who must otherwise
have surely died
The apparatus H very simple. 1t con-
sists of foot bellows, a rubber tubing
and a metal tube ending in conelike
attachment. This attachment is insert
ed into the throat, or, as the physicians
put it, into the laryngeal socket. The
top end of the metal tube has two open
ings, one receiving the air from the bel
lows through the rubber tube and the
other closed by the thumb during the
time the air is being forced into the
lungs The thumb is removed during
expiration, or the collapse OF the chest.
1t will be seen that by this arrange
meut the fresh mir is pumped through
the tube into the patients lungs. When
the lungs are full, the chest collapses,
and the fused up air is forced out.
This used up air consists largely of car
bunic acid gas, which is a poison, and
hence it ought TO be carefully kept out
of the tube The arrangement of the
opening controlled by the thumb at the
top Of the metal tube allows the bad
air to escape. Therefore none but fresh
air can enter the lungs
1t is easy to insert the end of the
tube into the larynx. A mouth gag is
used, the tongue drawn out, and the epi-
CLOTHS (Which covers the opening of
the windpipe) held back by the first
finger of the left hand. The tube is put
in with the right hand. When the tube
has been adjusted, the operator begins
to work the bellows with his foot The
chest Immediately expands, and no air
escapes except when the cone is too
small. In such case a larger cone can
be put in.
This artificial breathing is kept up
II times a minute, and water is forced
into the tube from time to time in order
to keep the passages moist.
The apparatus is especially useful in
eases whore the heart acticn is going on,
hut whore he patient has great Difficult
ty in breathing. A typical condition OF
this sort is that resulting from taking
too much morphine.
At the Presbyterian hospital in New
York recently an instance of this kind
occurred. A German cook, 81 years Of
age, had taken l2 grains of morphine
and was brought to the hospital at 80
p IN. in condition Of stupor. His
body had that blue or cyanose appear
ance which is characteristic Of persons
who are suffering from morphine poi
soning. The pupils of his eyes were very
small, and he breathod but four times
in each minute, and very feebly at that.
His pulse was very high, registering
100 a minute.
He was Immediately placed under
the charge of DIR. Walter B. James,
and various drugs were administered
for the purpose of counteracting the
effect of the poison. The stomach was
also washed out. 1t was seen that the
mans condition was such that, unless
some means could be employed for keep
ing up the breathing, he must die. 1t
was, therefore, resolved to use one Of
the O'Dwyer tubes.
The tube was inserted at 10 80 p. IN.
and respirations were forced into the
mans lungs at the rate of 12 every
minute. The patients whole condition
| improved at once. The pulse became al
most normal, and the blue color of the
face and hands disappeared. The stom.
ach pump was once more inserted along
| side the tube, and the stomach was
washed thoroughly, after which more
medicine was administered.
At II BOP. IN. the patient was aroused,
but his pulse was not good. At mid
night he became restless, and the tube
was removed, and he was made to sit
up. But in spite of the diligent efforts
made to keep him awake, i'll about ten
minutes his face and hands again began
| to grow blue and his pulse rapid and
feeble. The tube was replaced, with the
result that his condition Immediately
changed for the better.
At 2 80 a. m. the tube was again re-
made its appearance ON the hands and
face. 1t was put back again and kept
in place until nearly 80 o'clock in the
morning, when the patient became so
restless that its removal was neces-
sity. After this, until 7 o'clock, the
patient was kept awake by the slapping
of towel, for when left alone his res
pirations would so down to eight OF
ten a minute.
AT z 40 o'clock his respirations were
10 a minute and his pulse 1870. At the
end of five days he was discharged cured.
The tube had remained in z hours and
10 minutes, during all of which time
its use was necessary, for during all of
that time the patient was quite unable
to do his own breathing. New York
World.
WHY Everybody Smiled.
An amusing scene was witnessed by
many pedestrians one day at the corner
of Thirty seventh street and Broadway.
A fence, about 80 feet high, covered
with theatrical Autographs, incloses o
lot on that corner, where the fouuda-
tions Of a new building are being laid.
1t was the noon hour, and six brawny
sons Of Erin were seated on a slightly
raised platform, resting against the
fence. They were eating their luncheon
and were joking and laughing to their
hearts content. Those who stopped to
look at the grOup could not withhold a