_Take sage about a pugil_ (that is as much as you can well take
betwixt three fingers) _on this pour boiling water, one quart;
to which add sugar and good old Jamaica rum, sufficient to make
it agreeable, but not too strong_. Or instead of this give him
some mulled wine.
A fever always attends a patient after the recovery of Drowning;
therefore care should be taken when he is brought to himself, that he is
not over heated by liquor; as this is liable to throw him into a disease
as dangerous as the narrow chance he has just escaped.
Should however the above methods not succeed, you must not despair. If
the lungs, or the larynx seem so contracted that it appears impossible
to blow breath into him by the mouth, recourse must be had to
_bronchotomy_, that is, opening the wind-pipe betwixt the third and
fourth cartilage; to which a man should put his mouth and inflate the
lungs; the throat should be tickled with a feather, a little pepper
blown up the nostrils and the body here and there scratched with pins,
or small wounds made in the legs and arms, and plentifully rubbed with
salt. If there is salt enough to do it, the patient ought to be covered
all over.
We have instances that patients, after two hours application, have been
brought to life again; therefore every means possible should be tried.
Of all the various stimulants, salt, or potashes, is the best; spirits
must not be made use of, nor indeed vinegar, in the time of recovery; as
that is liable to congeal the blood, and prevent it from circulation,
till the recovery is procured; when the sage punch, or mulled wine, or
some other cordial may be proper. Spirits of hartshorn, if it is on
board may also, with propriety, be held to the nose, or poured a little
down the throat, as that is stimulating, but not coagulating.
When at length the patient has recovered, let him take the forementioned
draught No. IV. as also the warm sage punch No. V. and take all possible
care for his recovery.—If Bronchotomy was obliged to be performed, let
the wound carefully be washed, closed, and dress’d with dry lint; over
which lay a compress with warm claret intermixed with _camphor spirits_;
and the more to favour the healing, let his head constantly be inclined;
rest should also be promoted as much as possible, for which purpose 8 or
10 drops of _liquid laudanum_ will be very proper; likewise silence
should be strictly imposed on him; and that should be a material object
to be observed, by those who tend him. In every respect else, let him be
treated as is directed under the head of fevers and other circumstances,
as they shall occur.
Here then I shall conclude this lecture, and beg leave to observe, that
as mankind are ever liable to accidents, particularly that class I have
here devoted myself to serve, it behoves us ever to be provided with
preconsiderations, that we may be always ready to give our friendly
assistance in the hour of distress. In time of need, the mind is too
much hurried to read with any attention; and dangers particularly from
accidents admits of no delay.
The prudent seaman, especially the father of his Crew will therefore
make himself acquainted with all these circumstances in his hours of
tranquillity, by which he may ever be ready with his friendly aid, and
receive the blessing of him that is benefited by his Humanity and
generous care.
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