Observations on apparent death, from suffocation, by hanging or drowning : choke damp, produced by inhaling carbonic acid, or some other irrespirable exhalation, by a stroke of lightning or electricity, and by exposure to extreme cold : with directions for using the resuscitating apparatus, invented by the author, and general instructions for the recovery of persons from suspended animation / by Edward Welchman.

  • Welchman, Edward.
Date:
1842
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations on apparent death, from suffocation, by hanging or drowning : choke damp, produced by inhaling carbonic acid, or some other irrespirable exhalation, by a stroke of lightning or electricity, and by exposure to extreme cold : with directions for using the resuscitating apparatus, invented by the author, and general instructions for the recovery of persons from suspended animation / by Edward Welchman. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

    12/22
    ner of accomplishing which is as follows,* viz: Fix the resuscita- ting instrument firmly to the table on which the patient is placed or if more convenient on another standing close to it- Those ends of the flexible tube marked (1) are to be screwed into the brass holes at one end of the instrument, observing to screw the longest tube into the upper hole. There are three pairs of black pipes, viz : one pair at each end of the instrument, and another under the han lie. The suitable size for the patient being select- ed, screw them on to the other ends of the flexible tubes, then insert one into each nostril, and if they do not fit accurately, they must be made to do so by wrapping a piece of linen round them. The patient's mouth being stopped by tying a hand- kerchief round the head, or by means of a mouth-piece contriv- ed for the purpose, draw up the instrument and then press it down again. The drawing up of the instrument should be ac- companied by pressure with the hand of an assistant over the pit of the stomach, who, with his other hand each time the in- strument is depressed, is to press backwards and draw gently downwards towards the chest, that part of the wind pipe which lies a little below the chin, and which from its prominence in men, is commonly called Adam's applet The act of inflation should commence with a sudden and rather forcible pressure gradually diminishing. Each elevation and depression of the instrument should be performed in rather less time than com- mon breathing,or about twenty times in a minute.t Great ad- * By this we change the blood in the lungs from its dark or carbonized state to the scarlet or arterialized condition; and by the absorption of oxygen from the atmospheric air introduced, or where that gas is used by itself, we obtain an in- crease of temperature internally.—See Dr. John Davy on the theory of respi- ration. By artificially introducing air into the lungs of an animal that has been appa- rently destroyed by interrupting the respiration, the blood is enabled to undergo its appropriate changes from the venous to the arterial state, which, in proportion as this change is effected, the contractility of the heart is restored.—The cele- brated experiment of Vesalius.—Bostock's Phys. Vol. II. p. 174. t Dr. Goodwyn.—Encyclopedia of Medicine. t See Chs. T. Couthupe, Esq.—Philosophical Mag. for June, 1839 ; and Bos- tocks' Phy. Vol. II. p. 56.