"SCINTILLTJLA FORSAN LATEAT!"

Taranaki Herald, Volume VII, Issue 320, 18 September 1858, Page 1 (Supplement)

"SCINTILLTJLA FORSAN LATEAT!"

Poetical version of the Humane Society's Rules for the Recovery of Drowned Persons. When in the stream, by accident, is found A pallid body of the recent drown'd, Though ev'ry sign of life is wholly fled, And all are ready to pronounce it dead, With tender care the clay-cold body lay In flannel warm, and to some house convey : The nearest cot, whose doors still open lie When mis'ry calls, will ev'ry want supply. Is it a child, yet weak in strength and age, Then let thy thoughts the gentlest means engage. In some warm bed between two persons laid, Infant or child may claim no further aid. If woman, man, or youth, attendance claims, Then maik the rules that sage experience frames : First, lay the body on a couch or bed, With gentle slope, and lightly raise the head. Do winter's cold or damps extend their gloom, Let moderate fires attemper soft the room. Or does the sun in summer splendour stream, Expose the body to its cheering beam. And wheu with tepid cloths it well is dried, Let friction soft, with flannels, be applied. These lightly sprinkle first, ere you begin, With rum, or brandy, mustard, or with giru Bottles or bladders, fill'd with water hot, And heated tiles or bricks, should next be got: These wrapt in flannel, with precaution meet, And then apply them to the hands and feet ; Nor with the heated warming .pan be slack, But move it lightly o'er the spine and back, Let one the mouth, and either nostril, close, While through the other the bellows gently blows. Thus the pure air with steady force convey, To put the flaccid lungs again in play. Should bellows not be found, or found too late, Let some kind soul with willing mouth inflate ; Then downward, though but lightly, press the chest, And let th' inflated air be upward prest. But should not these succeed, with all your care, With vigour then to difPrent means repair. Tobacco-smoke has often proved of use ; Nor proudly thou the potent herb refuse. Th' enliv'ning fumes with watchful patience pour Into the bowels thrice within the hour. If this should fail, tobacco-clysters ply ; Or other juice, of equal energy. Mere agitation oft assistance gives, And slumbrous life awak'ning, oft relieves. Let some assistant hands, with sinews strong, The undulating force awhile prolong. Shouldst thou these means a tedious hour pursue, Yet not one gleam of life returning view, Despond not : — still for kiud assistance fly To brewhouse, bakehouse, or to glass house nigh ; Has te, haste, with speed, the remedy embrace j In ashes, grains, or lees, the body place. There let it cover'd rest ; there gently meet The latent blessing of attemper'd heat : On health's true standard all are well agreed, The heat should not that measure much exceed. Gieat good from hot baths, if with ease obtain'd, With early care applied, is often gain'd. Sometimes, though life is cold in ev'ry vein. And death o'er all the powers may seem to reign, Th' electric fluid, nature's purest fire, The soul-reviving vigour can inspire, Breathe through the frame a vivifying strife, And wake the torpid powers to sudden life. Yet more : this shpek of life is ofc the test, Though all who look may be of doubt possesf. Let fly the sudden, shook: if life remain, Spasms and contractions instantly are plain : No longer^ doubt, no more the case debate, You see the body in a living state. When these, or other pleasing signs appear, Oh ! then rejoice, returning life is near. Proceed, proceed : if he can swallow aught, Pour lukewarm water careful down the throat, Give brandy, rum, or wine, a small supply, Whatever he can bear, or may be nigh. Now see your patient snatch'd from instant death, Restor'd to draw once more the vital breath j Go then, convey him with a friendly arm, And let him feel, in bed, the comforts warm. Ah! cease ft oiii noise: his half-shut eye-lid shews He wants tho soothing of a sweet repose. Soon, soon again from slumber shall he wake j Soon, soon again of cheering health partake. And now, restor'd to partner, child, or friend, Shall bless your name to life's remotest end. But, ah ! a fatal error oft has been, When life, though latent, was not quickly seen, Then, thinking that the conflict all was o'er, That life was fled, and could return no more j Who much have wish'd, and yet despair'd to save, Too rashly doom'd the body to the grave. More patient thou, with ardour persevere, Four hours at least : the gen'rous heart will fear To quit its charge, too soon, in dark despair ; Will ply each mean, and watch th' effect with care ; For should the smallest spark of life remain, Life's genial heat may kindle bright again. * " A little spark may perchance lie concealed," the appjoprinte motto of the Royal Humane Society.