XXIV. Proposals for the recovery of people apparently drowned

Abstract

Having been requested by a principled member of the society, lately established for the recovery of persons apparently drowned, to commit my thoughts on that subject to paper; I readily complied with his request, hoping, that, although I have had no opportunities of making actual experiments upon drowned persons, it might be in my power to throw some lights on a subject so closely connected with the inquiries which, for many years, have been my favourite business and amusement. I therefore collected together my observations and experiments relative to the loss and recovery of the actions of life, and shewed them to a Society of which I am a member; who approved of them as new and curious, and unanimously recommended their being submitted to the judgement of this learned Body. The practice is new, and has furnished as yet few important and clear facts.