The New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser

From the Hampshire Chronicle.

Extraordinary instance of Reanimation.

Mr. PRINTER,

Please to give the following a place in your paper.

WILBRAHAM, June 19, 1791.

On Saturday the 28th ult. about noon, my little boy, aged 4 years was playing with his sisters in the chamber, whose floor did not extend over the whole room ; when by some unfortunate accident he fell, and first struck with his head against the lower floor ; I was aroused by the noise occasioned by the fall, and out-cry of his sisters, and ran with all possible speed to his assistance ; but previous to my entering the room, his mother had taken him from the floor : I saw him gasp once, and then, without a groan, he seemed to sink supinely into the arms of death. There was a total suspension of the vital functions ; however, I could not but hope that the latent spark of life was not wholly extinguished ;that hope stimulated me to make use of every effort in my power to restore him to life again ; auxiliaries were called, the doors thrown open, and his body stripped ; stimulants were applied to his nostrils. &c. we threw cold water into his face, agitated his limbs, and for want of other spirits, bathed his head, breast, arms and legs, with vinegar. I rubbed his skin, and used the Lancet several times, but in vain. He continued for a considerable time apparently dead. Warm fomentations were applied to his whole body, but more potently to his breast and legs ; soon after I discovered a tremour about the region of the heart, succeeded by convulsive motions-on these signs of returning life, I opened his mouth and breathed forcibly into his lungs, he gasped ; again I used the lancet, and he bled. However, it was more than three hours after his almost fatal fall. before he recovered so far as to speak a single word. His lethargy for a considerable time was very great. The night following he was attended with a delirium, violent fever. excessive vomiting, and his forehead was prodigiously discoloured—These symptoms made me suspect, that the scull was fractured ; I therefore repeatedly applied cloths, dipped in warm camphorated spirits, with vinegar, to the wound, in order to evaporate the extravasated blood. We administered cordial draughts, mild febrifuges, and cooling cathartics, occasionally ; and in a short time he was happily restored to health again.

AARON JOHN MILLER.

Grafton.