The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1905-12-14
TREATMENT FOR
ELECTRIC SHOCK
Methods Of Reconsideration Similar TO
Those Used For Asphyxiotion--A
Topic Deserving of Much Study
Need For information on the Part
Of Physicians.

IL
j ~ Of the Ohio Electric Light
IA Association was one by e.
IN M e. Noble on characterization.
From Electric Shock"
Commenting on this the Electrical Re-
view declares that the topic deserves
thorough discussion. as any addition
al light that can be thrown upon the
effect Of electric shocks is Of great
value. Not only should every physi-
clan be familiar with the effects of
an electric shock upon the human sys-
tenn, but every worker about electric
plants Of any kind who is at all ex-
posed to shocks, even though of low
voltage, should be taught the best
methods to be applied to resuscitate
victim.
"As is well known" the Electrical
Review continues, 1.-THE treatment to.
revive a person rendered unconscious
by an electric shock is similar to that
used to revive those rendered uncon-
sciOus from lack of air. Some suitable
method of producing artificial respira-
ton should be applied Immediately and
kept up until all possible doubt of
death has been removed, always until
a physician arrives to take charge.
THE effect of the current is first to
stop the actions of the heart and lungs,
and if these can be restored the vic
tim will generally recover, provided no
other injury has resulted. When, how
ever, current has been applied for a
longer time, the vital organs of the
body may be SO injured as to make
death certain.
"That part of Mr.. Mobiles paper
which lays stress upon immediate and
faithful work with the patient we
heartily endorse, but there is some
question in regard to other portions.
Results are given of experiments on
animals with comparatively high vol
tage, from which the subject suffered
NO permanent injury. Current was
drawn from 23OO-volt supply in one
case, and passed through the brain of
a dog for one minute without any bad
effects. Other instances equally sur
prising are mentioned, and then en-
phasis is laid upon the stateent that
lit is the amount of current which
passes through the body, and not the
voltage, which causes the damage. I'm
fortunately, the experiments described
in the paper are not sufficiently de-
tailed to enable one to understand ex-
actly how they were performed, and
they leave some doubt as to whether
in speaking of pressure of 23OO volts
the experimenters do not mean rather
the voltage Of the supply than the vol
tage between the two terminals when
applied to the animal.
''As is we'll known, the resistance Of
the body varies considerably, and the
resistance of the contacts is probably
even more important. A person might
easily suffer no damage from shock
obtained from high voltage supply,
provided only that there was sufficient
resistance in the circuit of which he
formed a part to reduce the current
which ran through his body to GER
tain value; but this would be in effect
reducing the voltage of the shock 1t
is not safe to draw conclusions from
experiments stated so incompletely,
and on the face of them it would be un-
wise to spread the feeling that electric
shocks are much less dangerous than
they are supposed to be. It is better
to be on the safe side and have a
wholesome dread of an electric shock,
rather than to be rendered careless by
false feeling of security. We, on
the one hand, have no patience with
those who are always speaking Of the
deadly wire but on the other hand,
we prefer that those who have no bus
mess about an electric system should
believe that it is dangerous to ap-
proach.
Holding to the opinion stated above,
that it is the amount of current which
passes through the body, and not the
pressure applied, which causes the
damage, it is suggested by Mr.. Noble
that metallic gauze Jacket be worn
obliged to work on electric systems; or
that a system of metallic bracelets,
worn around the upper arms and con-
nected by means of flexible conduc-
tors, take the place of the metallic
jacket. While it is conceivable that
such a garment might be useful in
some cases, it is question whether,
in other cases, it would not prove
source Of danger. The object of these
metallic protectors is to shunt any cur
rent which might pass through the
wearers body around the heart, and
thus prevent inhibition. Now, suppose
that contact be made by the two hands
it is question how much of the cur
rent will leave the body at one upper
arm to pass through the metallic con-
ductors and back into the other arm.
1t might happen that the presence of
this low resistance portion Of the cir
cult would cause so much current. to
pass through the hands and arms as to
paralyze them, rendering it impossible
for the victim to let go.
TT is possible that smaller current,
applied for longer time, would cause
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