TREATMENT OF THE SUPPOSED DROWNED.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXIII, Issue 9571, 14 December 1881, Page 2

TREATMENT OF THE SUPPOSED DROWNED.

+ Mr Benjamin Howard, in a lecture delivered before the British Medical Association on the " Direct Method of Artificial Respiration for the Treatment of the Supposed Drowned," gives some very useful hints for this emergency. Dr Howard, finding that the directions recommended by the Royal Humane Society worked unsatisfactorily, were in many respects difficult for other than medical men to follow out, and required the co-operation of at least two persons, investigated the whole question of the treatment of the apparently drowned, and sets forth his objections to the whole system, and bis arguments in favour of tHat proposed by himself. Sis rules are short and simple, being as follows: — Instantly turn the patient downwards with a large roll of clothing under stomach and chest. Place one of bis arms under his forehead so as to keep his mouth off the ground. Press with, all your weight two or three times, for four or five seconds each time, upon the patient's back, so that the water is pressed out of lungs and stomach, and drains freely out of the mouth. Then quickly turn the patient's face upwards, with roll of clothing uader back just below the shoulder blades, and make the head hang back as low as possible. Place patient's hands above his head, kneel with patient's hips between your knees, and fix your elbows firmly against your hips. Now — grasping lower part of patients naked chest — squeeze his two sides together, pressing gradually forward with all your weight, for about <

three seconds, until your mout "*"* nearly over the mouth of patient ; •] with a push, suddenly jerk y^ ow, back. Rest about three seconds; ,'ai begin again, repeating these bell Is o blowing movements with perfect S» S gularity, so that foul air may be pj >nl out and pure air be drawn into lungs about eight or ten times a niii jis for at least one hour, or until the pj &yie breathes naturally. These direc fttti must be used on the spot, the fin jial taut the patient is taken from the n -ehi A moment's delay, and the case mi rali hopeless. Prevent crowding %, p^, the patient; plenty of fresh air is and portant. Bo careful not to intei told the first natural breaths. If the ay long apart carefully continue bet ran them the bellows - blowing inoven m as before. After breathing is re; an* let the patient be rubbed dry, wra pm in warm blankets, take hot spirits |s water in small occasional doses, (jnt then left to rest and sleep. — The i jtfo tary Eecord. ' lie