Choking is most frequently caused by
getting something ' ' the wrong way ' ' in
swallowing. That is, what should go down
into the gullet or swallowing \hxo2i\.(^phary7ix
and (Esophagus) gets into the windpipe {la-
rynx and trachea). The windpipe is just in
front of the swallowing gullet ; the latter is
next to the spine. When one laughs, or in
any way breathes, while swallowing, this
accident may happen. Even a drop of
water going the wrong way, will cause a
distressing spasm of the windpipe ; but this
is over in a few moments. Danger follows
when a solid mass — as a mouthful of meat, —
slips into the larynx ; or when a large piece
of meat gets stuck fast in the pharynx
(gullet) so as to press on the trachea (wind-
pipe) forcibly enough to keep air from being
breatned through it into the lungs. Com-
monest of all, perhaps, is a fish-bone, or a
chicken -bone, getting crosswise, so that it
540
neither goes up nor down. Other things
may slip into the windpipe.
No time is to be lost, when any one is
choking. A long-fingered person should
try to dip a forefinger at once into the
throat as far as it will reach, to draw up and
out the offending bone, or whatever it is. If
it is a child, lift him up by the heels and slap
him smartly, while in that position, between
the shoulders. Children sometimes swallow
pins ; they stick, as bones are apt to do,
across the entrance to the throat, pretty far
up. Surgeons have long slender forceps
and other instruments with which to seize
such articles and withdraw them. All such
things, everything except a piece of solid
food in the swallowing throat, should be
taken out, not pushed down. If time allows,
a piece of wire may have a loop made in its
end, and then be curved near that end, so
as to be passed down, behind or below the
obstacle, to draw it out. A proof that the
thing is in the windpipe is obtained if the
person can swallow a drink of water, yet
has great distress and difficulty in breathing.
This difficulty is great in expiration (out-
breathing) as well as in inspiration. A
physician being sent for immediately, in an
urgent case, fatal suffocation being threat-
ened, may find it necessary to open the
larynx or trachea, by an incision, in order
to save life. If the immediate danger be
passed, the question of such an operation
may still have to be considered, when a for-
eign body remains in any part of the air-
passages .
Strangling is best known in the form of
hanging, which is a frequent mode of sui-
cide. If any one is found hanging by the
neck, hold up the weight of the body, and
at once loosen the cord at the neck ; cutting
it will generally be the speediest way, if a
knife is at hand. Then lay the person
down, and, with as much fresh air around
as possible, dash cold water lightly on the
face (if it be in a warm place, on the bare
chest also). Rub the arms and legs briskly,
especially iipivards, to favor the movement
of blood in the veins, which is towards the
heart. Heat a poker or flat-iron, not quite
to a burning heat, but so that a hand can-
not rest on it long with comfort ; and touch
that gently upon the pit of the stomach, and
THE FAMILY DOCTOR
77
Page 215
Presented as published in 1901. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
Choking is most frequently caused by getting something ' ' the wrong way ' ' in swallowing. That is, what should go down into the gullet or swallowing (pharynx and esophagus) gets into the windpipe {larynx and trachea). The windpipe is just in front of the swallowing gullet ; the latter is next to the spine. When one laughs, or in any way breathes, while swallowing, this accident may happen. Even a drop of water going the wrong way, will cause a distressing spasm of the windpipe ; but this is over in a few moments. Danger follows when a solid mass — as a mouthful of meat, — slips into the larynx ; or when a large piece of meat gets stuck fast in the pharynx (gullet) so as to press on the trachea (windpipe) forcibly enough to keep air from being breathed through it into the lungs. Commonest of all, perhaps, is a fish-bone, or a chicken-bone, getting crosswise, so that it
neither goes up nor down. Other things may slip into the windpipe.
No time is to be lost, when any one is choking. A long-fingered person should try to dip a forefinger at once into the throat as far as it will reach, to draw up and out the offending bone, or whatever it is. If it is a child, lift him up by the heels and slap him smartly, while in that position, between the shoulders. Children sometimes swallow pins ; they stick, as bones are apt to do, across the entrance to the throat, pretty far up. Surgeons have long slender forceps and other instruments with which to seize such articles and withdraw them. All such things, everything except a piece of solid food in the swallowing throat, should be taken out, not pushed down. If time allows, a piece of wire may have a loop made in its end, and then be curved near that end, so as to be passed down, behind or below the obstacle, to draw it out. A proof that the thing is in the windpipe is obtained if the person can swallow a drink of water, yet has great distress and difficulty in breathing. This difficulty is great in expiration (outbreathing) as well as in inspiration. A physician being sent for immediately, in an urgent case, fatal suffocation being threatened, may find it necessary to open the larynx or trachea, by an incision, in order to save life. If the immediate danger be passed, the question of such an operation may still have to be considered, when a foreign body remains in any part of the airpassages .
Strangling is best known in the form of hanging, which is a frequent mode of suicide. If any one is found hanging by the neck, hold up the weight of the body, and at once loosen the cord at the neck ; cutting it will generally be the speediest way, if a knife is at hand. Then lay the person down, and, with as much fresh air around as possible, dash cold water lightly on the face (if it be in a warm place, on the bare chest also). Rub the arms and legs briskly, especially upwards, to favor the movement of blood in the veins, which is towards the heart. Heat a poker or flat-iron, not quite to a burning heat, but so that a hand cannot rest on it long with comfort ; and touch that gently upon the pit of the stomach, and