Manual of popular instructions, for recovering persons apparently dead from drowning, suffocation, lightning : to which are added, remarks on the accidents incident to children and cautions, hints &c to persons exposed to the accidents and diseases for the prevention and cure of which this tract is designed / drawn up under the sanction, and with the assistance of Dr. Hawes, institutor and treasurer of the Royal Humane Society, London.

  • Hawes, William, 1736-1808.
Date:
[1806]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Manual of popular instructions, for recovering persons apparently dead from drowning, suffocation, lightning : to which are added, remarks on the accidents incident to children and cautions, hints &c to persons exposed to the accidents and diseases for the prevention and cure of which this tract is designed / drawn up under the sanction, and with the assistance of Dr. Hawes, institutor and treasurer of the Royal Humane Society, London. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    ' —< weather, we find the same rash practice equally preva)]«, no,t only among aged worn-out constitutions, but in young pei;- sons in the bloom of health and vigour, who, on being struck down by an illness of only a few days, or even hours, ?re nevertheless consigned to the same summary sentence, be- cause custom has ordained it? No sooner has breathing apparently ceased, and the visage assvmied a ghastly or death-like look, than the patient, after his eyes are closed, is hurried into a coffin, and the body, scarcely yet cold, is precipitated into the grave! fco extremely fallacious are rhe signs of death, that too often, has the semblance been mis- taken for reality; especially after sudden accidents, or short illness. Many of these, however, by prompt means and •judicious treatment, have been happily restored. That certain unfortunate beings, have been, prematurely interred, some very affecting instances might bo produced; hut we forbear to revive the sad remembrance. To prevent in future a repetition of sucli horrible events, at the very idea of which our nature revolts and humanity shudders, is the object of the present remarks. When youtl] and beauty in the prime of life are suddenly stunned as it wore, by a maligt\ant fever, the powers of the system are sometimes oppressed, vitality overwhehm-d, *nd the pulse rendered imperceptible, while a death-like aspect overspreads the countenance. Can tliese, without farther enquiry, even in the hottest climate, justify the com- mon usage, of immediately precipitating the funeral process^? May not a small spark of life yet remain? Who then is left to decide between life and death? Dr. Buchan in his last publication, Advice to Mothers, relates the remarkable case of Miss Wilson, who lay in a state of apparent death 11 days, the muscles remaining rigid, and the body seemingly lifeless; she would then have been buried, had he not positively forbidden her mother, whatever might happen, to have her interred till he had given his assent. At the time of this last attack, he was upon a journey to a distant part of the country. On his return, being told that she was dead, but that her burial had been delayed till he had seen her, he im- mediately called, and found her to all appearance what the people had described her—a lifeless corpse. On exam.inn- tion of the body, however, he thought he perceived some D 2