BOY'S HEART MASSAGED

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2966, 3 January 1917, Page 6

BOY'S HEART MASSAGED

1 3, 'ACTION RESTORED AFTER 13 '• MINUTES. j. The story of how Albert Davics, aged 6, had his heart's action restored by U massago after thirteen minutes' cessation, is related in'tho privately circui- latcd "Gazette" issued to tho staff of Guy's Hospital. >* After tho boy'a tonsils had been removed ho stopped breathing. Other *' means failing to restore respiration, j which had ceased for twelve minutes, an incision was mado to enable the [« surgeon to massage tho heart. After about twenty squeezes the heart was , suddenly felt to be beating and respiration was re-established, though at first tho pulse was not perceptible, and the " boy's condition remained extremely feeble. Ho was unconscious for two days. Only by unremitting care was ho brought round gradually to perfect health. '* The medical statement on the case concludes: —"There have been several successful cases recorded of hoart massage, but this case is, perhaps, unique, '>• in that recovery took place after so long a time of cessation of the circulation. It can be imagined that it is extremely difficult to estimate tirno in emergencies, but it is certain that the heart had stopped at least thirteen min- , utes, and.the impression of those present was that this figure should be be- • twecn fifteen and.twenty minutes."