An experimental inquiry into the pathology and treatment of asphyxia ... To which the Royal Humane Society awarded the Fothergillian Gold Medal / [John Eric Erichsen].

  • Erichsen, John Eric, 1818-1896.
Date:
1845
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An experimental inquiry into the pathology and treatment of asphyxia ... To which the Royal Humane Society awarded the Fothergillian Gold Medal / [John Eric Erichsen]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    by inflation of the lungs after it has once ceased. I have lately been informed by Mr. Woolley that the practice adopted by him at the Receiving House of the Society, is to employ artificial respiration in all those cases in which the respiratory actions are not naturally restored on taking the sufferer out of the water, or on placing him in the hot-bath. My observations apply, therefore, solely to the pub¬ lished reports of the Society, and not to the practice of my friend Mr. Woolley. In this divided state of opinion between men whose views are equally entitled to our consideration, it will be well, in order to come to something like a conclusion upon this important subject, to ex¬ amine it in detail, and more particularly with regard to the following questions:— 1st, Can artificial respiration re-establish the circulation through the lungs after it has entirely ceased ? 2d, Can it re-excite the contractions of the heart after they have entirely ceased ? That insufflation of the lungs with atmospheric air can re-establish the circulation in these organs after it has entirely ceased, and after they have become congested with asphyxial blood, there can be no doubt from the following experiment, which is one chosen almost at random from a considerable number on the same subject, performed by Dr. Sharpey and myself. Exp. 13.—A pipe, with a stop-cock adapted to it, was introduced into the trachea of a young middle-sized mongrel terrier ; the cock was then shut. In half a minute the animal began to struggle. The struggles continued with occasional intermission until 2J minutes, when they ceased. At the 7th minute, the animal being quite dead, the heart was exposed and the pericardium opened ; it was acting freely. Vessels on its surface were uniformly black ; the arteries and veins equally so. Both the auricles were black ; the rigfht auricle was distended, the left full. 8;th minute.—Ventricles ceased to contract regularly, but tremu¬ lous movements continued in their muscular fibres. Auricles acting strongly and regularly, from 50 to 60 in a minute. Sometimes more rapidly, about 80. Right side of heart much distended. Pulmonary artery appeared very tense. Pulmonary veins at the roots of the lungs were full and perfectly black. Lungs collapsed, mottled darkly. 13th minute.—Contractions of auricles less powerful. Blood still flowed from mammary arteries on being cut. 20th.—Auricles acting feebly, contractions chiefly, if not entirely, at the tip. 29th.—Auricles ceased. 30th.—Auricles recommenced acting, but very irregularly. 34th.—Auricles ceased acting for about half a minute, then began F