The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1911-09-01
DEATH COULD HAVE BEEN PRE-.
VENTED.

EENIEUs
Artificial Respiration Would Have
Saved Youth Who Was Drowned.
The pathetic death recently OF John
Smith, or Baltimore, by drowning be-
cause none or the half hundred men
and boys in the neighborhood knew
how to induce artificial respiration,
makes an exposition OF this very
simple means Of saving human life
extremely pertinent.
Young Smith dived into Blue pond,
came up once and. sank. Five minutes
later his body was brought to the
shore by companions. None of the
bystanders knew how to induce res
piration, and though his companions
worked over him for L. minutes, their
inexpert efforts had no effect When
q doctor arrived he found the youths
lungs full or water, and said had that
been promptly removed, he could IN
doubtedly have been saved.
One method Of inducing respiration
is as follows:
The patients clothing should be re
moved and the body quickly dried.
The mouth, the nose and the throat
should be cleared and the tongue
pulled forward to facilitate the &C
cess OF air into the windpipe, a roll,
a pillow,a rolled-up coat or piece of
wood should be placed under the
shoulders. The arms should now be
graSped near the elbows and be
swept slowly around, horizontally,
away from the body, until the hands
meet over the head, this movement
raises the ribs and expands the chest
as in respiration; the arms should
then be brought down to the side, the
elbows meeting almost over the pit OF
the stomach; pressure Is then made
against the chest walIproducing con-
traction of the chest, the arms are to
be held in the latter position for a
few seconds; after which the whole
movement IL repeated. The mouth
should be kept open and the tongue
be held forward.
Another Simple Method.
The following method has the ap-
proval of the Board Of Health Of the
city of New York.
UNLESS there Ia danger OF the patti
ent freezing he should never be NOV
ed from the spot where he ia rescued,
nor should bystanders be allowed to
screen Off the fresh air. Instantly
wipe clean the mouth and nostrils,rip
and remove all clothing to little be-
low tbs waist, rapidly rub and dry the
exposed part, and give two quick
smarting slaps on the stomach with
the open hand. III this does not sue
coed Immediately, proceed according
to the following rules to perform ar
tificial breathing:
/. Turn the patient on his face, a
large bundle of tightly rolled clothing
being placed beneath his stomach, and
press heavily over it upon the spine
for half a minute This movement
corresponds with the popular rolling
on a barrel. Its purpose is to expel
water from the lungs.
2. Turn the patient quickly again
upon his back, the roll OF clothing
being SO placed beneath IL as to make
the short ribs bulge prominently for
ward, and raise them little higher
than the level OF the mouth. Let some
bystanders hold the tip Of the tongue
out of one corner of the mouth with
a dry handkerchief and stretch both
arms of the patient forcibly back
above his head with the hands togeth-
er.
8. Kneel astride of the patients
hips and with your hands resting on
his stomach spread out your fingers
SO that you can grasp the waist about
the short ribs. Now throw your weight
steadily forward upon your hands,
while you at the same time squeeze
the ribs deeply, as II you wished to
force everything in the chest upward
out of the mouth. Continue this
while you can slowly count one, two,
three; then suddenly let 60, with q
final push, which springs you back
to your first kneeling position. Re-
main erect upon your knees while
you can count one, two; then throw
your weight forward again as before,
repeating the entire motions-at first
about four or five times minute, in
creasing the rate gradually to about
Is times minute, and continuing
with the same regularity OF time and
motion as is observed in the natural
breathing which you are initiating.
May Take Two Hours.
A. Continue this treatment, though
apparently unsuccessful, for at least
gins to breathe; and for a while after
this help him by well-timed pressure
to deepen his first gasps into full,
deep breaths; while the friction of the
limbs, which should, II possible, have
been kept up during the entire pro-
cess, is now further increased.
;. As soon as the breathing has
become perfectly natural strip the
patient rapidly and completely
Wrap him in blankets only; put him
in bed in room comfortably warm,
but with a free circulation Of fresh
air and, except for the administration
of internal treatment, let him have
perfect rest. Give him a little hot
brandy and water or other stimulant
at hand every ten or fifteen minutes
for the first hour, and as often there
after as may seem expedient.