Bath Humane Society, instituted in the year 1805 ; supported by voluntary contributions.

  • Bath Humane Society.
Date:
1806
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Bath Humane Society, instituted in the year 1805 ; supported by voluntary contributions. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    A single instrument cannot be made For less than a guinea ; the rope and pole cost about four shillings. A smith would, doubtless, undertake a stipulated number at a less price. Mr. J. Stone’s Description of the Drag, fyc. See Plate II. As the want of drags has been severely felt, and several drowned before the drag or boat hook could arrive; this drag is therefore recommended for its cheapness, and the certainty with which it takes hold of the clothes without materially injuring the body. Though it can only be used when the person is clothed, it will be found peculiarly useful for the canal and river, where above five out of six are drowned with their clothes on ; and the specific gra¬ vity of the human body being only a few pounds heavier than water, any thing that takes hold of the clothes, will bring the body gently to the surface. When a person falls from the bank into the river, the body is seldom within reach of a pole, conse¬ quently the drag or boat hook is useless without a boat. This drag, by having a iong cord, can be used imme¬ diately, by throwing it beyond the body, and gently draw it to shore. A. A. is a piece of ash, originally round, and eigh¬ teen inches long, and about two inches in diameter, having the two sides planed, so that the upper may be wider than the lower part. At each side, and at the ends, tenter hooks are driven, at an inch and