Accidental injuries, their relief and immediate treatment : How to prevent accidents becoming more serious / [Sir James Cantlie].

  • Cantlie, James, Sir, 1851-1926.
Date:
1887
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Accidental injuries, their relief and immediate treatment : How to prevent accidents becoming more serious / [Sir James Cantlie]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    SWALLOWING HOT WATKIL I3:j When suffoeation takes place by a j)icce of meat filling up the air ]iassages, the patient, whilst laugh- ing or busily talking when the mouth is full, starts up from the table, turns blue in the face, attempts to ]>ass the fingers to the back of the throat, and then drops down insensible. The bystander should at once open the mouth, pass the forefinger down behind the tongue, and attempt to dislodge the j)article of meat. ?fo half-measures will do; this must be done at once, and decidedly. If the piece of meat is removed, but the patient does not come to. pei-form artificial respiration (see p. 130). If the piece of meat does not completely obstruct the air passages, there will be |5robably violent spasmodic cough, with much difficulty in breathing, and the patient points to the throat. Here also open the mouth and remove anything you can see or feel with the finger. Thump the back hard, bending the body at the same time well forwards. If it is a child, and death likely to ensue, hold it up by the heels and thump the back hard. If the suffocation comes from smoJce or gas, get the ])atient into fresh air, and perform artificial respira- tion fp. 130). A common form of suffocation in children is brought about by their attempting to drink from the spout of a kettle which contains boiling water. The i-eason of their so drinking is that the kettle is used frequently by the poorer classes to make tea in, and the child, when it gets its mother’s back turned, wants to get a drink of tea. It is not likely that any of the watei- is actually swallowed, but enough is taken to cause choking, cough, and suffocation from the swelling at the back of the throat and in the windpipe. Treatment: .Send at once for the doctor, and whilst he is being fetched, wi-ap the child in a blanket, apply hot sponge.s or hot flannels, dry or