(1) THE INSTITUTION OF THE Humane Society OF THE Commonwealth of Massachusetts. FROM a variety of faithful experiments, and incontestible facts, it is now considered as an established truth, that the total suspension of the vital functions of the animal body is by no means incompatible with life; and consequently, the marks of apparent death may subsist without any necessary implication of an absolute extinction of the animating principle. The boundary line between life and death, or the distinguishing signs of the latter, are objects to which the utmost efforts of the human capacity have never yet attained. Nor can we, with any degree of certainty, pronounce, that an animal is dead, until the most unequivocal proofs of putre- faction have been furnished, From (2) From these facts it might reasonably be ex- pected, that were proper measures to be adopted, especially is cases peculiarly doubtful, we might frequently be enabled to restore to full life, and the enjoyment of it, a beloved friend, or a valuable member of society. And indeed, numerous suc- cessful influences might be adduced in the cases of persons, who would in a few hours have been con- signed to an untimely grave; and perhaps have suffered all the horrors of inevitable death, attended with a consciousness of their own terrible situation. It is not, however, to be understood, that any process, directed to the above-mentioned purpose, can be equally applicable to all cases. For as the attempt mail presuppose an entire state of the vital organs, it is obvious that those apparent deaths, which are consequent upon disease, afford, in ge- neral, little or no encouragement for such attempts. But in most cases of sudden death, the vital organs appear to have sustained but a very slight injury, and only require a reasonable excitement or the heart to renew their action. The exquisite feelings attendant on the unex- pected restoration of an affectionate friend, or an indulgent parent, a dutiful child, or an intimate companion of our bosoms, after having been sud- denly torn from us, and in imagination numbered with the dead, maybe more easily conceived than described. Nor is the acquisition of one deserving member of society an object unworthy the publick attention. Upon (3) Upon these considerations, societies have been formed in various parts of Europe for promoting attempts to recover persons from apparent death, especially in cases of suffocation and drowning. The Humane Society established in Great-Britain, in 1774, as keen very successful. Within ten years from its institution, out of 1300 persons apparently dead from drowning, 790 have been restored to their friends and country. Many of them, no doubt, useful and valuable men. For an institution of this nature a considerable fund is necessary. A proper apparatus must be procured. And many occasional expenses will un- avoidably occur. The cause of humanity, however, deserves every encouragement. And to promote that cause, it is to be hoped the benevolent will liberally subscribe. A Society is now formed for these salutary purposes in this Commonwealth: And the follow- ing plan and arrangements are submitted to the inspection of the publick. RULES (4) RULES for the regulation of a Society instituted in the town Boston, for the recovery of persons who meet with such accidents as produce in them the appear- ance of death. I. THAT the Institution shall be called The HUMANE SOCIETY of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. II. That the Society shall be governed by a number of Trustees not exceeding twelve, of whom one shall be the President, two, Vice-Presidents, one Treasurer, one recording Secretary, and one cor- reponding Secretary. III. That the President, or, in his absence, a Vice-President, with the major part of the Trustees, shall constitute a quorum. IV. That the President, with the advice of the Trustees, shall be empowered to call at his plea- sure a meeting of the Society, but that the Society shall indispensibly meet twice every year, namely, on the second Tuesday in December and the second Tuesday in June. V. That each subscriber shall pay into the hands of the Treasurer the sum of six shillings and eight pence per annum.* VI. That * The meaning of this article is, that no subscriber shall pay less than this sum. (5) VI. That such gentlemen of the faculty, as shall engage to afford their assistance towards pro- moting the views of the Society, shall give their medical attendance gratis. VII. That the President and Trustees shall be annually elected by ballot on the first Tuesday in December; and that when a subscriber cannot attend such election in person, he shall be entitled to vote by proxy. VIII. That when any accident shall happen, producing apparent death, the person who shall first discover, and endeavour to recover the subject, shall be entitled to receive from the Treasurer of the Society, a sum not exceeding forty-eight shilling nor less than six shillings, lawful money, at the discretion of the Trustees. IX. That the person who shall bring the first intelligence to one of the physicians of the Society of such accident as is expressed in the preceeding law, shall be entitled to receive from the Treasurer of the Society, a sum not exceeding nine shillings. X. That the Trustees shall appoint some person to deliver a public discourse on the second Tuesday of June every year, upon some medical subject con- nected with the principal objects of this Society. XI. That the recording Secretary shall keep a fair copy of all the votes and proceedings of the Society, and record all such cases and communi- cations as the Trustees shall direct. XII. That (6) XII. That the corresponding Secretary shall write all letters relating to the business of the Society, and shall answer all such letters as the Society shall receive, they being previously commu- nicated to the President, or Trustees assembled. XIII. The President and Trustees shall, upon the second Tuesday in June, in every year, pub- licly adjudge a silver medal, not exceeding the value of one guinea, to the author of the most approved dissertation which they shall have re- ceived in the course of the preceding year, upon some medical subject connected with the principal objects of this Society, and the Society shall order the same to be printed at their expense, provided it shall be agreeable to the author's inclination. XIV. That any person, who shall, by a signal exertion, save another from death, shall receive from the Treasurer of the Society a sum not ex- ceeding thirty shillings lawful money, at the dis- cretion of the Trustees. To (7) To this institution a large number of subscrip- tions are already obtained. And the following officers have been chosen by the Society. His Excellency Governour BOWDOIN, President. Doctor JOHN WARREN, Second Vice-President, Rev. SIMEON HOWARD, D.D. Treasurer. Reverend JOHN CLARKE, Recording-Secretary. Doctor THOMAS WELSH, Corresponding Secretary, Trustees The Hon. Judge WENDELL, Doctor ISAAC RAND, Rev. JOHN LATHROP, D.D. Reverend SAMUEL PARKER, Doctor BENJAMIN WATERHOUSE, Doctor AARON DEXTER, Such gentlemen in this Commonwealth, as wish to encourage this benevolent institution, are re- quested to apply to either of the Trustees, with whom subscription papers are lodged; and those, to whom it is not convenient to apply in person, may, on transmitting their names, with the sum they incline to subscribe annually, have their names entered as members of the Humane Society. THOUGH (8) THOUGH the following Methods are chiefly adapted to cases of apparent death from drowning, yet the Society think it proper to observe, that most of the means of restoration herein recom- mended are applicable to a considerable variety of other cases, such as hanging, convulsion fits, cold, suffocation by damps, or noxious vapours, the confined air of wells, cisterns, caves, or the must of fermenting liquors.—The Society have in the most essential articles of treatment, followed the recommendations of foreign Societies of a familiar nature; though they have endeavoured by a few necessary alterations, to render them more con- formable to the particular circumstances of the country. METHODS of Treatment to be used with Persons apparently dead from drowning. I. THE unfortunate person is to be conveyed carefully to the nearest public or other house open for its reception, in such a manner as to prevent the extinction of any small remains of life that may exist: For this purpose the head is to be raised a little, as in bed, and the body should be carried in a natural and easy posture, as in the same situation. II. The object is to be immediately stripped, and laid on a warm bed, and skin well dried with heated flannel, the mud and froth to be removed from the mouth and nostrils; if the body was naked at the time of the accident, it is then to be surround- ed as expeditiously as possible with a hot blanket, and thoroughly dried with coarse cloths or flannels. III. When (9) III. When the air is very cold or moist, the various methods of treatment are to be made use of near a large fire, or in a heated apartment. On the other hand, if the weather is warm, or sultry (as in the summer season) the windows and doors of the room should be opened; and in every other possible way a cool refreshing air obtained; as it is of the greatest importance in bringing forward the latent spark of life, or in restoring natural breathing. IV. No persons are to be admitted into the room, but those who are actually employed in exerting their utmost endeavours for the recovery of the unfor- tunate; six persons are therefore the greatest number that can ever prove useful on such occasions; and those who are bystanders for the sake of curiosity should be requested to withdraw, as their presence may retard or totally prevent the restoration. V. The smoke of tobacco thrown up the funda- ment should be ranked among the earliest applications; if a fumigator* should not be at hand, the common pipe will answer the purpose of applying this vapour to the bowels. So easy and important an operation should be repeatedly performed, as the good effects of tobacco smoke have been proved in many cases. VI. The skin is to be gently rubbed with warm woollen cloths, and a warming pan heated (the body being surrounded with flannel) may lightly be moved up * A number of these instruments will soon be procured, and notice will then be given where they shall be deposited. — When the common pipe is used, the smoke is to be blown with the mouth from the bowl, through the stem, into the fundament, covering the bowl with a handker- chief, or thin piece of linen. (10) up and down the back for a considerable time. Wooden bottles, filled with hot water, &c. or heated bricks, covered with flannel, may be effica- ciously applied to the soles of the feet, palms of the hands, and other parts of the body. VII. If a child has been drowned, its body should be wiped perfectly dry, and immediately placed in bed between two persons of good constitu- tion; the salutary effects of the natural vital warmth have been clearly proved in a variety of successful cases. VIII. The body is to be rubbed with flannels, sprinkled with spirits, and fomentations of hot rum are to be applied to the breast, &c. and often renew- ed. The nostrils may be every now and then tickled with a feather; snuff and volatiles should be occa- sionally made use of, to excite sneezing if possible. The various means of recovery should be made use of by the assistants for several hours, the body is to be gently shaken every ten minutes, in order to render the process more certainly successful; and the bodies of children in particular are to be agitated, by taking hold of their arms and legs frequently, and for a continuance of time. In a variety of in- stances agitation, in conjunction with the methods laid down, has forwarded the recovery of boys who had been drowned, and continued for a considerable time apparently dead. IX. If there be any signs of returning life, such as sighing, gasping, convulsive motions, pulsation or a natural warmth, a spoonful of any warm liquid may be (11) be administered; and if it proves that the power swallowing is returned, then a cordial draught may be given in small quantities, but not without the direction of a Physician. Bleeding is never to be employed in such cases, unless by the direction of one of the Medical Assistants, or from other respectable gentleman of the faculty, who has paid attention to such unfortunate accidents. The methods which have been to fully recom- mended, are to be made use of with vigour for several hours, although no favourable circumstances should arise; for it is a vulgar and dangerous opinion to suppose that persons are irrecoverable, because life does not soon make its appearance; and upon this opinion, an immense number of the seemingly dead have been committed to the grave; who might have been RESTORED TO LIFE by resolution and perse- verance in the plans of treatment now recommended. Whenever any good has been produced by the means recommended, the person who has superin- tended the cure is desired to write a circumstantial account of it to the Society. NAMES (12) NAMES of the SUBSCRIBERS. DOctor Samuel Adams, Mr. Thomas Amory, John Avery, jun. Esq; Mr. Jonathan Loring Austin. Mr. Nathaniel Balch, Samuel Barrett, Esq; Joseph Barrell, Esq; £.1 0s. 0d. per annum. Doct. Josiah Bartlett, Charlestown, Mr. William Billings, £.0 12s. per annum. His Excellency James Bowdoio, Esq; £300 per annum. James Bowdoin, jun. Esq; John Boyle Esq; Mr. Samuel Bradford, Samuel Breck, Esq; £100 per annum. Mr. Henry Bromfield, jun. John Brown, Esq; Thomas Bulfinch, M.D. £.100 per annum. Rev. John Clark, His Honor Thomas Cushing, Esq; £.100 for one year. Hon. Francis Dana, Esq; Cambridge, £.100 per aunum. Thomas Dawes, jun. Esq; Doct. Aaron Dexter. Rev. Joseph Eckley, Rev. John Eliot, William Erving, Esq; Rev. Oliver Everett. Mr. Bossenger Foster, Mr. William Foster, Rev. James Freeman, (13) Joseph Greenleaf, Esq; Mrs. Mary Haley, £.300 per annum. Mr. Joseph Hall, Charlestown, Doct. Lemuel Hayward, Samuel Henshaw, Esq; Stephen Higginson, Esq; Benjamin Hitchborn, Esq; Mr. Alexander Hodgdon, £.0 18s. for one year. Rev. Simeon Howard, D.D. Hon. Jonathan Jackson, Esq; Henry Jackson, Esq; Leonard Jarvis, Esq; John Coffin Jones, Esq; Doct. John Joy. Doct. Thomas Kast. Rev. John Lathrop, D.D. Mr.Benjamin Lincoln, jun. Doct. James Lloyd, Hon. John Lowell, Esq; £.0 18s. per annum. John Lucas, Esq; Jonathan Mason, Esq; Mr. Joseph May, Mr. George R. Minot, Rev. John Murray. Hon. Robert T. Paine, Esq; Rev. Samuel Parker, Edward Payne, Esq; William Powell, Esq; Mr. Henry Prentiss, Ezekiel Price, Esq; (14) Mr. Samson Read, John Rice, Esq; Thomas Russell, Esq; £.2 8s. per annum, Mr. Joseph Russell. Doct. Oliver Smith, Mr. William Smith, Rev. Samuel Stillman, Hon. James Sullivan, Esq; James Swan, Esq; Rev. Peter Thacher, Doct. Thomas Thaxter, Hingham. Doct. David Townsend. Doct. John Warren, Benjamin Waterhouse, M.D. Josiah Waters, Esq; Arnold Welles, Esq; Doct. Thomas Welsh, Hon. Oliver Wendell, Esq; Doct. Moses Willard, Roxbury. AN ingenious and very useful Communication on the subject of Restoration from apparent Death, has been received from Mr. Jonathan Williams of Boston, from which, as an encouragement for exertion in similar cases, the following facts are extracted.—A child of Mr. Williams, at that time in Nantz, at about the age of 12 days was taken ill, and on the 13th to appearance died.—Mr. Williams immediately determined to try an experiment on his child, and by gentle friction with soft flannel near a fire, in about fifteen minutes restored it to life; though being very weak from a premature birth, it lived only about 20 hours longer.— Mr. Williams himself, at the age of nine years, fell into the mill-creek—it is uncertain how long he continued under water —he was at length; discovered and taken up breathless; the body was placed between hot blankets and rubbed on every part (15) part with hot cloths, hot bricks were applied to the soles of his feet, and all the other usual methods were employed, till every one except his mother was discouraged, and desisted from the use of means; she alone, however, inde- fatigably persevered, and was rewarded, though not until the end of four hours, with the exquisite pleasure of restoring him to life. Doctor Franklin communicated to Mr. Williams the case of a gentleman, who laboured under a disease which he himself supposed would prove mortal: When he ap- proached the last agonies, his faithful fervant was weeping by his side—he ordered the servant to watch him, and when he had breathed his last, to get naked into his bed, and as far as possible encompass the body; then to breathe forcibly into his mouth, and to continue this act till he should recover, or become cold.—He punctually obeyed; the gentleman recovered, and lived to relate the story many years after. Another well known instance is produced of a Philadel- phia gentleman in France, who about five years since was supposed to have died, and three days afterwards was about to be buried-, when a physician present happening to look into the coffin, was induced, from the appearance of the countenance, to delay the funeral; he immediately made use of the common methods; the gentleman re- vived, and is now alive and well in Philadelphia. A number of other cases have been received, and will be duly noticed by the Society. IT is with the highest satisfaction that we communicate to the public the case of a Lad, who, since the insti- tution of the Society, had fallen through the ice into the mill-pond.—He had repeatedly sunk to the bottom, when young Mr. Sloane discovered him, and without waiting to take off his clothes, plunged into the water and brought him to the shore; where by the use of proper means he was soon entirely recovered.— At a meeting of the Trustees Mr. Sloane has been declared entitled to the sum of twenty eight shillings, as a premium for his services.