Rescrie of* Drowning Persons. 
Rules Adopted by the Metropolitan Board of Health. 
At every ferry-house, and at the other stations mentioned in 
the list, the rescue apparatus, namely, the heaving lines, grap- 
pling pole, and ladders are found. 
Every police officer by the water-side is regarded as having 
authority over the rescue apparatus, but whoever can reach the 
apparatus first, and employ it, should make the effort, and should 
call for help. Lose no time in grappling and lifting the body 
out of the water, and at the nearest dry place at once begin the 
work of resuscitation. 
If there is help enough at hand when the patient is taken from 
the water, or afterward, let the nearest medical officer in the 
catalogue (or any other physician near by) be called, but let there 
be no waiting for a physician. Do the best that can be done 
methodically and deliberately, according to the following rules: 
Hutes for Resuscitating or Saving the Life of the Drowned. 
Remember that the patient must be treated instantly, and on 
the spot where rescued. He must be freely exposed to the open 
air; loosen the clothing so as to freely expose the neck and 
chest. All persons not needed for saving him should avoid 
crowding about. 
The Rescue Stations and Apparatus. 
(1.) Let the throat and mouth be cleansed by placing the patient 
gently face downward, with one of his wrists under his fore- 
head. Quickly wipe and cleanse the mouth, and if the 
patient does not breathe, immediately begin the following 
movements: 
(2.) Posture-Place the patient on his back, with shoulders 
raised, and supported easily on a folded coat or some kind 
of pillow. 
(3.) To Keep Up a Free Entrance of Air into the Windpipe.- 
Let one person, at the patient's head, grasp the tongue 
gently and firmly with his fingers, covered with a bit of 
handkerchief, and drawing it out beyond the lips; then 
either hold it, or press the undqr jaw (chin) up so as to 
retain the tongue protruding from the mouth; but it is 
better to hold it in that position with the hand. These engravings show how to give breath to a person rescued from 
the water and apparently dead. The posture in which the patient is to 
be laid (face down and wrist under the forehead) for a moment, soon as 
he is taken out of the water, is not shown here. [See 1st Rule, page 1. ] 
The movements here shown for one side of the patient must be made 
on both sides, by two persons working together. 
These figures show how one of the two men works. 
Figure 1 shows the long and strong pull, for opening the chest to let 
fresh air in. 
Figure 2 shows how to make the strong side and front pressure to 
drive the air out of the lungs. 
Figure 3 shows how the tongue is to be held. 
2 
HG. I. 
f/G.S' 
r/G.z. (4.) To Produce and Imitate the Movements of Breathing 
Raise the patient's extended arms upward to the sides 
of his head, and then pull them steadily, firmly, slowly, 
outwards. Next turn down the elbows by the patient's 
sides, and bring the arms closely and firmly across the 
pit of the stomach, and press them and the sides and front 
of the chest gently but strongly for a moment, then quickly 
begin to repeat the first movement. 
(5.) Let these two kinds of movements be made very deliber- 
ately and without ceasing until the patient breathes, and 
let the two movements be repeated about twelve or fifteen 
times in a minute, but not more rapidly, remembering that 
to thoroughly fill the lungs with air is the object of the 
first or upward and outward movement, and to expel as 
much air as possible is the object of the second or down- 
ward motion and pressure. This artificial respiration should 
be steadily kept up for forty minutes or more when the 
patient appears not to breathe; and after the natural breath- 
ing begins, let the same motion be very gently continued, 
and let the proper stimulants be given in the intervals. 
What Else is to be Done, and. What is Not to be Done, 
while the Movements are Being Made. 
If help and blankets are at hand have the body stripped, 
wrapped in blankets, but not allow the movements to be stopped. 
Bystanders can supply dry clothing. And the assistants should 
briskly rub the feet and legs, pressing them firmly and rubbing 
upward, while the movements of the arms and chest are going 
on. Apply hartshorn or a feather within the nostrils occasionally, 
and sprinkle or lightly dash cold water upon the face and neck. 
The legs and feet may be rubbed and wrapped in hot blankets, 
if blue or cold, or if the weather is cold. 
What to Do when, the Patient Begins to Breathe. 
Give brandy by the teaspoonful or hot sling two or three 
times a minute, until the beating of the pulse can be felt at the 
wrist, but be careful and not give more of the stimulant than is 
necessary. Warmth should be kept up in the feet and legs, and 
as soon as the patient breathes naturally, let him be carefully re- 
moved to a house, and be placed in bed, under medical care. 
3 
Another Method.-Marshall Hall's. 
This method is most useful after the other has become wearisome. 
First.-Treat the patient instantly on the spot in the open air, 
freely exposing the face, neck, and chest to the breeze, except in 
severe weather. 4 
Second.-In order to clear the throat place the patient gently 
on the face, with one wrist under the forehead, that all fluid and 
the tongue itself may fall forward, and leave the entrance into 
the windpipe free. 
Third.- To excite respiration, turn the patient slightly on his 
side, and apply some irritating or stimulating agent to the nos- 
trils, as veratrine, dilute ammonia, etc. 
'Fourth-Make the face warm by brisk friction; then dash 
cold water upon it. 
Fifth.-If not successful lose no time, but to imitate respiration 
place the patient and turn the body gently, but completely, on 
the side, and a little beyond; then again on the face, and so on, 
alternately. Repeat these movements deliberately and persever- 
ingly fifteen times only in a minute. When the patient lies on 
the thorax, this cavity is compressed by the weight of the body, 
and expiration takes place. When he is turned on the side, this 
pressure is removed and inspiration occurs. 
Sixth.-When the prone position is resumed, make a uniform 
and efficient pressure along the spine, removing the pressure im- 
mediately before rotation on the side. (The pressure augments 
the expiration, the rotation commences inspiration.) Continue 
these measures. 
Seventh.-Rub the limbs upward with firm pressure and with 
energy. (The object being to aid the return of venous blood to 
the heart.) 
Eighth.-Substitute for the patient's wet clothing, if possible, 
such other covering as can be instantly procured, each bystander 
supplying a cloak or coat, etc. Meantime, and from time to 
time, to excite inspiration, let the surface of the body be slapped 
briskly with the hand. 
Ninth.-Rub the body briskly till it is dry and warm, then 
dash cold water upon it and repeat the rubbing. 
Avoid the immediate removal of the patient, as it involves a 
dangerous loss of time; also the use of bellows, or any forcing 
instrument; also the warm bath and all rough treatment. 
If the weather be very -cold, and the situation exposed, a 
tolerable shelter should, if possible, be secured; and in extremely 
cold weather it may be necessary to perform the rubbing and 
rotating movements, with the body, loosely covered with dry 
blankets, coats, or something of the kind. 
The treatment described in these Rules, (by one, or-succes- 
sively-by both of the methods,) should be persevered in for 
some hours, unless the patient is positively known to be dead. 
Persons have been restored after several hours of steady treat- 
ment in this way.