He was seen through the clear water, lying at a
depth of nine feet at the bottom of the bay, on his back, with
upturned face and arms extended from the sides of the body. He was
quickly seized by the boat hook, drawn head upward to the surface, and
with the inferior portion of the body hanging over the stern of the
boat, and the superior supported in the arms of his rescuer, was rowed
rapidly to the shore, where he was rolled a few times, and then placed
prone upon a tub for further rolling. I was told that much water came
from his mouth. Meantime I had been sent for to where I was sitting,
one hundred and fifty-one yards from the scene, and I arrived to find
him apparently lifeless on the tub, and to be addressed with the
remark, "Well, doctor, I suppose we are doing all that can be done."
I have given these details, as from a study of them I was aided in
deciding the time of submersion, as well as the intervals which
transpired before the intelligent use of remedies. It is also
remarkable that, notwithstanding all which has been written about
ready remedies for drowning, no one present knew anything about them,
although living in a seafaring community.
I immediately directed that the patient should at once be placed upon
the ground, which was sloping, and arranged his rubber boots under the
back of the head and nape of the neck, so that the head should be
slightly elevated and the neck extended, while the head was turned
somewhat upon the side, that fluids might drain from the mouth.
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