The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-11-17
RESTORATION OF LIFE TO.
DEAD" PERSONS
Discussion Of Causes, symptoms and Methods Of
First Aid

" HE old adage Of the cat and
its nine lives is sometimes
applicable to humans as well.
man Is not always dead, wien
he appears to be so, says q
writer In Scientific American.
There are many factors which
can bring about so.called apparent
death. The knowledge Of these
and the means Of overcoming the
temporary suspension Of bodily
function resulting thereby are OF
urinary Importance.
Death takes place through ces.
aation of the heart action. stop
nine of respiration, or through the
suspension of certain vital centers
i, the central nervous system.
Tbaaa three functions Of the body,
which are essential to life. are
60 interconnected In the body
COMPLEX that the functioning of
anv of them cannot be interrupt.
al for any great length Of time
without serious results. We can
ali stop breathing for q certain
length Of time, and there has
heen known one case at least Of
: man who could voluntarily stop
hia heart beating for about twenty
seconds. Cessation OF the func-
fioning of the nervous system cen
tiers even momentarily Is not
A The causes which can produce
apnarent death are: Poisoning
with such substances az NOR
mime. opium, veronal, belladOnna,
hydrocyanic acid, chloroform, etc;
the breathing Of irrespirable gases,
snch as chlorine, carbon dioxide,
carbon nonoxide, Illuminating
gas. and others; drowning, hang
ING. strangIing, freezing, slffo-
cation: shock by a strong electric
current or by lightning; loss OF
much blood. going without food
for 4 long time, perhaps In con-
function with cold: violent spasIns
nr fits as In epilepsy; cholera
and other exhansting sickness; Sc
we're body strain. The action Of
anv one OF these causes may
produce death by interfering with
fha normal operation Of the
heart, lungs and nervous system.
II IL only necessary for one OF
fha trio to be affected for appar-
emf death to occur, as the connec-
tion between them in the body IS
40 intimate that when the normal
oneration of one IS impaired or
stopped for even a short period
of time, the others are affected
similarly almost instantaneously.
Come TO Life.
There are, Of course, certain
victims Of apparent death who
come to life again without any
external aid. Among these may
be mentioned principally cases OF
apparent death caused by poison
ing with morphine, etc. How.
ever. in the great majority OF
cases help is required to prevent
apparent death from becoming
absolute death. What strikes the
laynan first In q case Of appar-
erlt death Is cessation of breath.
ing. and as it is not always pos.
sible that q skilled physician be
present at each case of such
| death, 1t is important that all
laymen know exactly what to do
| on such occasions.
| Artificial respiration is most
used at the present time, as the
sovereign method of combating
the apparent death which Is
caused by poisoning with various
! narcotics and alIsaloids, by as.
phyxiatior with gases. by drown.
| ing. hanging and also in the
special case OF the newborn babe.
| The freeing of the confined air
passages in the lungs by the in
| PRODUCTION OF sharp liquids. such
4 as strong vinegar mixed with fine.