THIS important subject, so intimately con- nected with the work of the NATIONAL LIFE BOAT INSTITUTION, has from time to time been treated of in our columns; but it is one of such general interest that any later information on the subject which may result from experience or scientific research will be certain to command attention.

Amongst those who have successfully made it their study is M. LABORDETTE, the Superintending Surgeon of the Hos- pital of Lisieux, in France, who has made numerous experiments on the lower animals, and has invented a very ingenious instru- ment, which he has named a " Speculum Laryngien," or " Laryngoscope," which promises to be of much service in the hands of medical practitioners, by facilitating the restoration of partially drowned or other- wise asphyxiated persons.

This instrument is designed to distend the throat and to facilitate the operation of examining and cleansing it, whilst it at the same time favours the free inspiration and 'expiration of atmospheric air, which in such cases is of vital importance.

Dr. LABORDETTE has published a trea- tise on the subject, having especial reference to the use of this instrument, which has appeared to us to be so interesting that we have translated it throughout, and inserted it in our present number. We also give a description and an engraving of the instru- ment itself.

In his treatise Dr. LABORDETTE especially calls attention to what he considers to be a serious mistake in the commonly received definition of the signs which indicate death in the cases of apparently drowned persons, and there appears to be much force in his statement.

In the Rules of the NATIONAL LIFE- BOAT INSTITUTION, and in those of the ROYAL HUMANE Society, amongst the ap- pearances which generally indicate death are enumerated the " clenching of the jaws " and the " semi-contraction of the fingers." Dr. LABORDETTE, however, states that after numerous experiments and much consider- ation he is convinced that both of those indications are, on the contrary, evidences of remaining vitality. And he quotes seve- ral cases of restoration, both of human beings and of animals, whose jaws were clenched on being taken out of the water.

He particularly quotes experiments made by himself with rats, when nine out of twelve, whose jaws were clenched and limbs contracted, were restored to life, while of twelve others, who were left longer in the water and whose jaws were not fixed nor their limbs contracted, only three were restored.

He considers that in the first stage of suffixation by drowning, the spasmodic action usually takes place which occasions the clenched jaws and contracted hands, bat which are again relaxed at the last stage before rigor mortis, or the stiffness of the dead corpse, ensues.

Br, LABORDETTS, therefore, strongly urges that the mere clenching of the jaws and contracting of the hands should serve as a stimulant to prolonged efforts to save life on the part of the operator rather than as reasons for the discontinuance of the same. The evidence which he adduces in favour of his opinion on the subject is so convincing, and moreover the acting on it is so entirely on the safe side, that we think it highly deserving of the consideration of the medical profession, and that ail persons who have the opportunity to assist in re- storing the apparently drowned should bear it in mind.