In all cases of sudden death, or apparent sudden death, the greatest care should be taken to ascertain which is the actual fact. The only absolutely certain sign of death is the appearance of putrefaction. So long as uncertainty exists effort at restoration should not be omitted. The greatest care should be taken in handing the bodies, as any roughness may speedily convert a case of apparent death into one of actual death.
Hunger.-Persons who faint from want of food may be mistaken for dead. Warmth and careful feeding is the remedy here, and the longer they have been without food the less of it must be given at first. In the worst cases injections of warm milk, frequently repeated, must be administered when signs of returning life are shown. A few drops of milk may be given to drink, increasing in quantity by slow degrees. Toastwater and broth may be given in addition, but no solid food until after the patient has had a sleep, during which care must be taken that he is covered up warmly.
Accident.-
When a patient is apparently dead after an accident he should be placed on a bed with the greatest care, and a few globules of Arnica 3 put on his tongue. There is nothing else to be done but wait for the arrival of a doctor, to see if life is actually extinct, or what is the extent of the injury.
Drowning, Suffocation, Hanging, Choking.-
There must be no delay in commencing the treatment in these cases. In cases of choking first ascertain if there is anything, such as a morsel of food, blocking the larynx. If so, and it cannot be dislodged through the mouth, tracheotomy must be restored to at once, and then the measures below adopted.
In cases of drowning.
“Instantly turn the patient’s face downward, with a large firm roll of clothing under stomach and chest. Place one of his arms under his head, so as to keep his mouth off the ground. Press with all your weight, for four or five seconds each time, upon the patient’s back, so that the water is forced out of the lungs and stomach and drains freely from the mouth.
“Then”-and this applies to all cases of suffocation as well as drowning:-
“Quickly turn patient’ face upward, with a roll of clothing under the back, just below the shoulder. blades, and make the head hang back as low as possible. Place patient’s hands above his head. Kneel with patient’s hips between your knees; fix your elbows firmly against your hips; now-grasping lower part of patient’s naked chest-squeeze his two sides together, pressing gradually forward with all your weight for about three seconds until your mouth is nearly over mouth of patient; then, with a push, suddenly jerk yourself back. Rest about three seconds; then begin again, repeating these bellows-blowing movements with perfect regularity, so that foul air may be pressed out, and pure air drawn into lungs, about eight or ten times a minute, for at least an hour, or until the patient breathes naturally.
“Prevent crowding around patient; plenty of fresh air is important. Be careful not to interrupt the first short natural breaths. If they be long apart, carefully continue between them the bellows-blowing movements as before. After breathing is regular, let the patient be rubbed dry, wrapped in warm blankets, take hot spirits and water in occasional doses, and then be left to rest and sleep.”-DR. BENJAMIN HOWARD, quoted by Dr. Hering.
Cold.-
Persons may be restored after having been apparently dead from, being frozen for some time. The greatest care is required. The application of heat is fatal. They must be placed in a cool room and covered with snow, or put into a bed cooled with ice and gradually thawed till all the limbs are pliable. Then they are to be placed on a dry bed and rubbed with cold flannel. If there are no signs of returning life give an injection of camphor-one drop of spirit of camphor to half a tumbler of water, and as soon as the patient can swallow, lukewarm coffee without milk, a teaspoonful at a time. If violent pains are experienced, Carbo veg. 6 should be given every five or six hours, and if this does not suffice, Arsenicum 3. If there is heat, or if stinging pains in the head are felt, Aconite, wine, or brandy may be given in small quantities if the patient craves for it. He must avoid going near a fire for a considerable time.
Lightning.-
Put the patient in a current of cool fresh air, and dash plenty of cold water on face, neck, and chest. Give, as soon as he moves slightly, Nux vomica 3. every half-hour, either on the tongue or by injection. For blindness following lightning stroke, give Phosphorus 3.
Mental Emotions.-
Violent mortification, Chamomilla 6; grief, Ignatia 3; fright and violent anger, Aconite 3.
