_Of Drowning_
A Man who unfortunately falls over board, and is taken up for drowned
(immediately) should not be given up for lost. As this is a circumstance
of the utmost consequence to a sea-faring man, I shall think my time
well rewarded in explaining the method of recovery contributing to the
preserving the life of my fellow creature.
There are different ways of drowning; and according to the nature of the
accident, the probability of recovery is founded.
A man, before he comes into the water, may receive an unlucky blow, that
will not only stun him, but make him expire his breath (which is
generally the case in high falls) as before observed. In this case his
senses are benumm’d, and by the inspiration apt to draw in a quantity of
water into his lungs instead of air; thence, both from the blow, and
from the total stoppage of respiration, he may have some blood vessels
burst, both in the lungs and in the brains, whereby he is instantly
irrecoverably dead, beyond all hopes. In this case it may happen, that
either way, separately, is enough to kill him.
A man may also, in the very act of drowning, swallow a prodigious
quantity of water; not only filling his stomach and intestines; but
thence forcibly infuse the water into the lacteals, thereby overload
them, and force it into the blood vessels that they burst. The great
quantity of cold water will also be apt to chill the stomach and
intestines; thereby destroy the sensibility, and prevent them from
performing the peristaltic motion; and by the universal consent, destroy
the whole nervous system, which is the spring of life, that promotes the
blood to circulation, and consequently stops the animal motion, and life
itself.
But the most common way of drowning is by suffocation; namely, a sudden
constriction of the respirative organs; whereby the supply of the air is
cut off, and consequently the circulation of the blood must stop. This
is verified by the frequent instances we have of people drowned, who
have scarce any water, either in their bellies or in their lungs.
To understand this properly, we must first observe, that a continual
supply of fresh air is requisite for the circulation of the blood;
partly and principally for its motion, and partly from the nourishment
the blood actually receives from the air. In the next place, we must
also consider, that the lungs, appropriated barely for respiration, are
so very delicate in the irritability throughout the larynx, aspera,
bronchea, and vesicles themselves, that the least heterogeneous particle
stimulates them to a convulsive expulsion, of what seems obnoxious to
them, and thence excites a cough. But, when the parts are too
irritating, the lungs are excited to a universal constriction, and
occasions strangling. This we find is the case when in drinking or
swallowing our aliment, that the least morsel happens by mischance
coming the wrong way (as it is called) that is, into the larynx,
occasions a heavy cough, or even a suffocation; to obviate which, nature
has formed the epiglottis in the larynx, like a flap, that opens in
respiration, but is always shut in the act of deglutition, except by
some mischance or other, that it becomes lame, and unable to do its
office.
These circumstances considered, we shall not only be able to account for
the act of drowning, but discover the principles that furnishes us with
probabilities of restoring life again.
I have mentioned three kinds of drowning that at present occurs to my
memory; and unless that some blood vessels, either in the lungs or in
the brains, or in some other principal viscera are burst; or, that the
lungs are so much filled with water, as to be unable to recover their
respirative functions again, (which is seldom the case) or, that the
whole nervous system has received a universal paralytic shock by the
chill of the Water in the stomach, so as to be robbed of its
irritability, either way of drowning is recoverable. For the whole
mystery consists, in setting the animal automaton or clock-work in
motion, again; to stimulate the nerves to their sensation; to set the
heart a pumping; and the lungs, in order to push forward the fluids, in
respiration. I could say much on the subject; but philosophy aside, let
us endeavour to recover the man to life again.
_The Method to recover a drowned Person._
Three things are to be the intention to restore life in a person taken
up for drowned.
1. To liquify the fluids. For the moment the circulation of the fluids
is stopt, the blood and lymph congeals; and after this, putrefaction
gradually commences.
2. To stimulate the nerves. For on the irritability of the nerves life
itself depends; and which sets every thing in the animal fabric in
motion.
3. To restore respiration. For without this, neither can the blood
circulate nor the nerves have sensibility.
The moment therefore you receive the person drowned, strip him of his
wet cloaths, and wrap him up in three or four dry blankets; if his belly
is swelled with water lay him across a chair or barrel upon his belly,
in order to make him void the water; but in this spend not much time,
but be as quick as possible. Take a good quantity of salt, the more the
better, with which employ three or four handy men to rub him all
over;—his temples, his wrist, his arms, his breast, his back, his
groins, his knees, his ancles, &c. let this friction either be by the
hands or rough woollen cloaths pretty briskly; and, whilst this is
doing, let one apply his mouth to that of the patient, stop his
nostrils, and with all effort blow gradually into his lungs, and try to
make him breathe. If the lungs are open to this, there is a good
prospect of recovery, and let the breathing into the lungs be briskly
repeated. In the mean time, try to open a vein in the arm; if the head
is bloated, as it frequently is, open the jugular vein, or whatever vein
that appears distended in and about the head.
On signs of life, continue the friction briskly, rub some _essential oil
of peppermint_ (U) in and about his nostrils. If he recovers, at first
he will open his eyes, heave his breast, his heart will beat, and
gradually he will move some of his limbs. If he opens his mouth put a
little salt in it at first, next give him the following draught.