Fothergill A. An new inquiry into the suspension of vital action, in cases of drowning and suffocation : being an attempt to concentrate into a more luminous point of view the scattered rays of science, respecting that interesting though mysterious subject. To elucidate the proximate cause, to appretiate [sic] the present remedies, and to point out the best method of restoring animation, 1795.

Catalog Record: Fothergill A. An new inquiry into the suspension of vital action, in cases of drowning and suffocation : being an attempt to concentrate into a more luminous point of view the scattered rays of science, respecting that interesting though mysterious subject. To elucidate the proximate cause, to appretiate [sic] the present remedies, and to point out the best method of restoring animation, 1795.

Title: An new inquiry into the suspension of vital action, in cases of drowning and suffocation : being an attempt to concentrate into a more luminous point of view the scattered rays of science, respecting that interesting though mysterious subject. To elucidate the proximate cause, to appretiate [sic] the present remedies, and to point out the
best method of restoring animation / by A. Fothergill.

AccessKey: acim

Author: Fothergill, A. (Anthony), 1732?-1813.

WLM Call Number: WO 250 F761 1795 RB

Publisher: Bath : S. Hazard, 1795.

Physical Description: [12], xviii, 189 p. : 3 plates (incl. port.) ; 21 cm.

Subject: Royal Humane Society.
Subject: Asphyxia.
Subject: Resuscitation.
Subject: Death, Apparent.

Abstract: In this work, Fothergill provides a summary of the resuscitative belief
current at the time of publication. He writes, “Therefore in every
case of vital suspension, the primary object is to institute artificial
resuscitation till the natural breathing can be reestablished” (p.112)
; and “The operation of inflating the lungs completely, demands
considerable address; as it constitutes the most important part of the
process it were to be wished that not only medical pupils of all
denominations, but also some other intelligent persons, in every parish,
were fully instructed how to perform it with dexterity.” (p.117) In
addition to discussing existing methods of resuscitation, the author
provides new ideas and inquiries for future resuscitative
investigations.

General Notes: Digitized by Northern Micrographics June 22, 2010.

General Notes: The frontispiece was an engraving of King George III, patron of the
Royal Humane Society. Two additional engravings appeared in the book:
Facing page 92 entitled “apparent dissolution,” and facing page 168,
entitled “returning animation.”

General Notes: This essay was awarded the Prize Medal of the Royal Humane Society,
Sept. 17, 1794. The oration delivered by Dr. J. C. Lettsom on
presentation of the medal, and Fothergill’s reply are prefixed to this
work.