The Receiver of Wreck has received instructions to pay the above-mentioned sums to the parties in question.
I am, Sir,
John Ellerthorpe, Esq., Your obedient servant,
Humber Dock Gates, J. H. FARRER.
Kingston-upon-Hull.
The following letter explains itself:—
Humber Lock Gate, Hull.
February 17th, 1863.
To the Secretary of the Royal Humane Society.
Sir,—I take the liberty of addressing you in consequence of an accident having occurred, last week, in the Lock Pit of the Humber Dock Gates, of this town. A man fell from a steamer going out of the Dock, whom I followed into the water in the hope of being able to save his life; but although he was not more than a minute and a half in the water, and he spoke to me when I had hold of him, the surgeon pronounced him to be dead when taken to the men's watch-house close by. A similar instance took place about three years ago. I wish to know if, in a case of this kind, a surgeon is justified in pronouncing life to be extinct without having previously used the means for restoring suspended animation. We have the Royal Humane Society's apparatus always close at hand, but rarely used. Having the honour to hold the Society's silver medal, as well as its testimonial on vellum, and also a silver medal from the Board of Trade for saving life from drowning on many occasions, I feel much interest in this subject; and I shall feel much obliged if you will give me instructions how to proceed in the event of a similar case taking place. I believe the Royal Humane Society issue printed instructions how to treat cases of suspended animation. If you will send me some of them I shall feel greatly obliged to you.
I am, Sir, with respect,
Your obedient servant,
JOHN ELLERTHORPE.
Our friend received the following answer:—
Royal Humane Society, Office, No. 4, Trafalgar-square, W.C.
February 18th, 1863.
Sir,—In reply to your note of the 17th, I beg to say that in the course of ten days or so, I will send some of the instructions issued by this Society for the treatment of those who are apparently dead from drowning, and you can place them in your room. Of course I am unable to give an opinion as to whether the medical man called in, in the case you refer to, was or was not right, as I am not cognizant of the whole state of the case; but I will suggest that, in all future cases which you may have to treat, you will persevere in your attempts at recovery for at least half-an-hour before you give up the patient as dead.