The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1906-07-18
FROM DEATH TO LIFE
Man Was Br0ught-Strange
Case of Man Thought
Drowned.

Washington, d. c., July l2 Mr.. II.
NJ. Knowles. the Superintendent of the
Third Life-Saving District. has made
quite an interesting report to United
States Treasury officials Of the resusci-
tation Of Robert Mooney from death by
drowning. Mooney was in a small
sailboat near Wakefield, r. l., which
was upset in Point Judith Pond. When
the boat was overturned Mooney was
forced under the sail, and was, there
fore, unable TO come to the surface.
Before aid reached the unfortunate
Eiau he had been under the water for a
period Of about % minutes. When first
aid was given from three and one-half
quarts TO gallon Of water was expell-
ed. A similar operation few minutes
later expelled about a pint of water.
Mooney at the time bore the appearance
OF a drowned man. His jaws were
clinched tightly. and there were no
signs Of life.
The artificial respiration WAS employ
ed for period Of about an hour and
forty minutes, when the patient show.
ed signs Of returning consciousness, aud
then heated rocks were applied to the
armpits, heart and soles of the feet
In his report Superintendent Knowles
says he reached the scene Of the capsiz.
ing in about twenty. eight minutes after
the boat had been overturned and about
five minutes after MONEYS body had
been dragged 10 the shore. Tbs patty.
ashore had Just expelled the water from
Moneys lungs for the second time, and
had commenced the method Of artificial
respiration. The patient was rs purple
a. grape, and was lying on the shore
with his eyes, ears and clothing filled
with sand, where those on shore had
rolled him about as best they could. A
moment later Superintendent Knowles
spread a small motor cover Of canvas
aud removed the body TO it, and keep
ing mp at the same time the bellows
movement and friction by rubbing the
limbs. A fire was built and stones
heated. which in the course Of 80 minutes
were rolled in jackets and applied to the
armpits, heart and soles Of the feet.
The bellows movement was kept up
while others worked ut the arm move.
ment
Mooney is blacksmith by trade, and
the muscles Of his arms and legs were
40 stiff that greater part OF the time 1t
took the strength Of man with both
hands at each arm TO maintain the arm
movement. while artificial respiration
was being kept up. The jaws were
ilenched, and had 10 be repeatedly
Ipened by prying them apart, and then
kept open by having sticks placed be-
tween them
The first sign Of life was observed at
ter the life savers Lad worked upon the
patient for an hour and twenty minutes.
This was noticed when hot stone was
placed against the sole Of the patients
bare foot. The constant rubbing and
artificial respiration. with renewed APP
plications Of hot stones, showed marked
of the condition Of the pa.
tent. About % minutes later physi-
clan arrived. and after making a test
with instruments. reported that there
was an action Of the heart and pulse.
The patient was then taken in the
launch TO the boathouse some distance
away. All the time the bellows move.
ment and rubbing were kept mp. This
had been going on for one hour and
forty-eight minutes. The patient had
remained unconscious all the time. Az
ter arriving at the boathouse the patient
was worked on for some time, and later
taken to his home, where he regained
consciousness about lao o'clock the
next morning.