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THE GENTLEMAN'S COMPANION
3.
lpecacuanha.
...
This simple is an emetic, a diaphoretic, and an expec–
torant. Mix from
IO
to
20
grains of the drug with
Y4
cup of water–
depending on patient's ruggedness of physique. Repeat every
Yz
hr
until gastric evacuation is accomplished. After 3 doses stop, and call a
physician. Ipecacuanha is poisonous in overdose.
TO SALVAGE A GUEST from the EFFECTS of HANGING-by RoPE,
not the MoRNING AFTER
This is, we are happy to say, a most unlikely emergency; but we
surmise, on occasion, that an amateur mixer-either through remorse
at the horror of his concoctions, through self-induced intoxication and
a weariness of life and life's problems, may seek to take his own life by
knotting one end of a bar towel, or cocktail apron, over the nearest
chandelier and noose it about his own neck. . . .
In
any such case we
quote an ancient English routine which should kill or cure.
I.
Don't dawdle or joke. Hanging is no fun and must be handled quickly
or not at all.
2.
Cut him, or her, down.
3. Carry the patient to the nearest open space on the floor, and strip off
clothing; or
if
still breathing, take to the bedroom for this process.
Wrap him in hot blankets with hot water bottles. Apply hot water bot–
tles, hot bricks, hot bags of sand, or hot glass bottles-Ah those British–
ers are a hardy race!-to the armpits, to the soles of the feet, between
the thighs; and especially along the spine.
4-
Rub the surface of the body with hands enclosed in wool gloves, Aunt
Aphasia Fittich's red flannel shorts, or dad's golf stockings.... Under
no condition use alcohol, either rubbing or drinking, on the body's
surface.
5· Where respiration has ceased, don't go in for all this routine but place
patient face down fully clothed on the living room rug, head on one side,
tongue pulled free-and proceed with drowning 1st aid, see any Boy
Scout Manual. . . . Or, briefly: kneel astride patient's hips, facing his
head.... Place both palms on either side of spine, over the lower ribs;
then. gradually throw our weight forward on them until virtually sup–
portmg the whole weight of our upper body. Release pressure at once,
but release it slowly. This whole pressure and release routine should take
4 seconds. Only
I
person is needed to save life by this so-called Schaffer
Method. It really supplies almost as much air as normal respiration.
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