Plan and reports of the Society, etc.

  • Royal Humane Society (London, England)
Date:
[1774]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Plan and reports of the Society, etc. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    9/46 (page 9)
    body fliould at intervals be fhaken alfo, and varied m its pofition. IV. If there be any figns of returning life, fuch as fighing, gafping, twitching, or any convulfive motions, beating of the heart, the return of the natu¬ ral colour and warmth; opening a vein in the arm or neck may prove beneficial, but the quantity of blood taken away fliould not be large ; nor fliould an artery ever be opened, as profufe bleeding has appeared prejudicial, and even deftru Clive to the fmall remains of life. The throat fliould be tickled with a feather, in order to excite a propenfity to vomit; and the noftrils alfo with a feather, fnuff, or any other ftimulant, fo as to provoke freezings, A tea-fpoonful of warm water may be adminiftered now and then, in order to learn whether the power of fwallowing be returned : and if it be, a table- fpoonful of warmed wine, or brandy and water, may be given with advantage: but not before; as the liquor might get into the lungs before the power of fwallowing returns. The other methods frould be continued with vigour, until the patient be gra¬ dually reflored. We have been as circumftantial as poffible in the above directions, that if one conveniency frould be wanting, the attendants may not be at a lofs for others. Where the patient has lain but a fhort time fenielefs, blowing into the lungs or bowels has been, in fome cafes, found fufficient: yet a fpeedy recovery is not to be expeCted in general. On the contrary, the above methods are to be continued with fpirit for two hours, or upwards, although there frould not be the leaft fymptoms of returning life. The vulgar notion that a perfon will recover in a B few