Gazette Of The United States

A writer in the New-York Gazette, on restoring suspended animation, says, that the immediate causes of death in a drowned person, are the want of vital air, with loss of tone in the moving fibres of the heart itself. This being admitted, the great object will be to renew the action of the heart and arteries, by obviating the causes which have interrupted their action; this is to be effected by three intentions: 1st. By restoring the heat and respiration; this is to be accomplished, 1st. By wiping the body as dry as possible, and then by applying a gradual uniform degree of heat, either by placing it before a fire, immersing it in a warm bath, exposing it to the sun, by the warmth of another person's body, or by covering it with warm grains, warm ashes, warm sand or salt, or lastly by rubbing it with warm clothes. 2d. By repeatedly inflating the lungs, imitating the alternate motions of natural respiration; this can be done either by inserting a tube in the windpipe, or as recommended by Dr. Monro, by inserting it into one of the nostrils. 2d. By more immediately restoring the action of the moving fibres, the means for answering this intention are, frictions, injections of tobacco smoke, vomiting, warm stimulating drinks, &c. And 3d. By lessening the quantity of blood, thereby promoting its circulation; this is only to be effected by blood letting, in the use of this remedy however some caution is necessary, lest we take more blood than is sufficient to fulfil this intention. These directions have been found repeatedly successful.