Drowning

suffocation through immersion in a liquid. Complete insen: sibility arises in from one to two minutes after submersion, recovery being still po ible; death occurs in from two to five minutes. As long as the heart continues to beat, recovery is po ible; after it has ceased, it is impo ible. Newly-born children an¢ young puppies stand submersion long: er than the more fully grown. Various methods have been devised for the restoration of the apparently drowned. That of Dr. Sylvester, recommended by the English Humane Society, pro: duces deeper inspiration than any other known method. That known as the “direct method,” introduced by Dr. Benjamin Howard, of New York effects the most complete expiration. These two methods combined and therefore tending to produce the most rapid oxygenation of the blood, the real object to be gained, form the basis for the instructions given out primarily for the use of life-saving crews an¢ distributed also in convenient form among ship captains and mariners They are here reproduced. Rule 1. Arouse the Patient.— Dc not move the patient unle in danger of freezing; instantly expose the face to the air, toward the wind if there be any; wipe dry the mouth and nostrils; rip the clothing so as to expose the chest and waist; give two or three quick, smarting slaps on the chest with the open hand. If the patient does not revive proceed immediately as follows: Rule 2. To Expel Water from the Stomach and Chest.—Separate the jaws and keep them apart by placing between the teeth a cork or small bit of wood; turn the patient on his face, a large bundle of tightly rolled clothing being placed beneath the stomach; pre heavily on the back over it for half a minute, or as long as fluids flow freely from the mouth. Rule 3. To Produce Breathing.— Clear the mouth and throat of mucus by introducing into the throat the corner of a handkerchief wrapped closely around the forefinger; turn the patient on the back, the roll of clothing being so placed as to raise the pit of the stomach above the level of the rest of the body. Let an a istant with a handkerchief or piece of dry cloth draw the tip of the tongue out of one eorner of the mouth (which prevents the tongue from falling back and choking the entrance to the windpipe), and keep it projecting a little beyond the lips. Let another a istant grasp the arms just below the elbows and draw them steadily upward by the sides of the ee head to the ground, the hands nearly meeting (which enlarges the capacity of the chest and induces inspiration). While this is being done let a third a istant take position astride the patient’s hips with his elbows resting on his own knees, his hands extended ready for action. Next, let the a istant standing at the head turn down the patient’s arms to the sides of the body, the a istant holding the tongue changing hands if nece ary ~ (changing hands will be found unnece ary after some practice; the tongue, however, must not be released), to let the arms pa , Just before the patient’s hands reach the ground the man astride the body will grasp the body with his hands, the balls of the thumb resting on either side of the pit of the stomach, the fingers falling into the grooves between the short ribs. Now, using his knees as a pivot, he will at the moment the patient’s hands touch the ground throw (not too sudom all his weight forward on his hands, and at the same time squeeze the waist between them as if he wished to force anything in the chest upward out of the mouth; he will deepen the pre ure while he slowly counts one two, three, four (about five seconds). then suddenly let go with a final push. which will spring him back to his first position. (A child or very delicate ee must, of course, be more gently andled.) This completes expiration. At the instant of his letting go, the man at the patient’s head will again draw the arms steadily upward to the sides of the patient’s head as_ before (the a istant holding the tongue agair changing hands to let the arms pa if nece ary), holding them there while he slowly counts, one, two, three, four (about five seconds). Repeat these movements deliberately and perseveringly 12 to 15 times in every minute — thus imitating the natural motions of breathing. If natural breathing be not restored after a trial of the bellows movement for the space of about four minutes then turn the patient a second time on the stomach, as directed in Rule 2 rolling the body in the opposite direction from that in which it was first turned, for the purpose of freeing the air pa age from any remaining water. Continue the artificial respiration from one to four hours, or till the patient breathes, according to Rule 3: and for a while, after the appearance of returning life, carefully aid the first short gasps, till deepened into ful! breaths. D. Droz, Gustave, a French storyteller; born in Paris, June 6, 1832. He was trained for a painter, but in 1864 gave up the pencil for the pen. He excelled in little sketches of life and manners, and his lively, playful descriptions of bachelorhood and married life captivate the public. He died Oct. 22, 1895.