1852: Humane Society recommends new methods of manual breathing

In 1852, scientific evidence provided the proof that stimulating breathing by heating the body, or tickling the nose, was ineffective. It was at this time that artificial breathing became the recommendation for reviving victims of suspended animation. However, the methods of breathing involved "manual handling of the victim." (15, page 2) The new method of breathing was referred to as "manual methods of resuscitation."

The advantage of manual methods is that they did not require any device, nor knowledge at knowing how to operate the device. There, likewise, was no risk at over inflating the lungs. Perhaps the most significant advantage is the manual methods could be started right away, without delay. (15, page 2)

The first of these newer methods were as follows:

Dr. Marshall Hall's Method (Postural Method):  This was introduced in 1856. It involved lying the patient his belly (prone) and pressing on the back to cause expiration.  Then the patient was turned on his
side and his shoulder raised to cause inspiration.  This was repeated until the patient woke up or was pronounced dead.

Dr. Sylvester's Method:  This method was recommended by the Humane Society in 1861. The victim was kept in a supine position.  The operator knelt at the head of the victim, grabbed the victim's arms and lifted them over the victim's head, thus causing inspiration.  The arms were then brought down to the victim's side, thus causing expiration.  This was repeated until the patient is revived or pronounced dead.

Dr. Benjamin Howard's Method:  This method was introduced in 1871.  The patient was placed face down (prone) and the rescuer pressed on the back 2-3 times to remove water from the lungs.  The patient was then placed on his back (supine), and the operator placed both hands firmly on the lower portion of the victim's chest and, with the force of his body, pushed forward to cause expiration.  When pressure was released, the patient took in a breath.  This was repeated until the patient is revived or was pronounced dead. This method was often rejected due to risk of broken ribs and ruptured liver.

As better evidence was obtained these manual methods were improved upon, and in some cases the names were changed to give credit to the modern physician. I will delve into these further in a future post.

In the meantime, once the victim woke up, the following was the general recommendation by Curry, although the recommendation by the Royal Humane Society is quite similar:

When the patient is so far recovered as to be able to swallow, he should be put into to a 'Warm Bed, with his Head and Shoulders somewhat raised by means of pillows. Small quantities of warm Wine-Whey, Ale-posset, or other light and moderately nourishing drink, should now be given from time to time; and gentle sweating promoted, by wrapping the feet and legs in flannels well wrung out of hot water... The patient should on no account be left alone, until the Senses are perfectly restored, and he be able to assist himself; several persons having relapsed and been lost, from want of proper attention to them, after the Vital Functions were, to all appearance completely "established. (14, page 66-68)

Within a year ten victims of the water were revived by the Royal Humane Society, "the youngest of these, a boy of ten, had been under the water for fifteen minutes and had not received any expert assistance for upward of forty minutes."  (1, page 3)

The Lungmotor Company notes:

At the first sermon preached on the Anniversary of the Establishment of the Royal Humane Society, the discourse contained the following statements:

"As we therefore have opportunity, let us do good to all  men."  "Many countries have been supplied with apparatus necessary to restore suspended animation."  The first statement is as applicable today (in 1920) as it was then.

From the establishment of these societies, have grown the government Life Saving Services of the present time, which are doing such heroic work, with the scant measures at their command, to conserve human life.

How little advance in ages has been made in the methods used to resuscitate the apparently drowned, is mutely told in the vast array of figures which mount yearly throughout the world, as the truly horrifying statistics of death, due to this' cause. (1, page 3-4)

As word spread of the benevolence due to the heroic efforts of the Royal Humane Society, and "by its impulse and example it has lead to the formation of numerous similar Associations for the Preservation and Restoration of Life in various places in Great Britain, in her Colonies, in several European nations, and on the American Continent." *

All of the methods used by rescuers were flawed. Mouth to mouth breathing was gross and resulted in cross contamination and the spread of disease. Rubbing a feather across the nose, and blowing smoke up the butt, were ultimately learned to have no effect. Chest compressions, abdominal thrusts, and otherwise altering the victim's body, resulted in broken bones and other injuries.

Yet all of these methods gave the rescuer hope, and the victim a fighting chance (albeit a weak one). When a person was reanimated, this provided the feeling of joy necessary to continue the movement. With each rescue attempt data was obtained, and the experts were able to use this data to come up with better methods.

Even with modern guidelines and methods survival rates for those in "suspended animation" continues to be low. However, as data continues to come in, these guidelines, and the methods used, are updated on a regular basis. Children and adults of all ages are properly trained so that when they are witness to an accident they feel competent to help that person, as opposed to standing by feeling helpless and disconsolate.

For all the wisdom we have today about saving such lives, we must give particular thanks to the members of the Royal Humane Society. It was by their efforts that a general feeling of benevolence spread across the globe, inspiring a movement that continues to save lives to this day.

*For example, in 1786 the Humane Society of Massachusettes was formed. (13, page 3) In 1824 the Royal National Lifeboat Association was formed.  (9, page 171), 

References: 

1. "Drowning: Historical-Statistical Methods of Resuscitation," no author nor editor listed, Published by Lungmotor Company, Boston, Massachusetts, 1920
2. "Pulmotor advertises gas company," Gas Age, volume 29, 1922, New York, Robbins Publishing Company Inc. 
3. Cannon, Walter Bradford, George Washington Crile, Joseph Erlanger, Yandell Henderson, "Report of the Committee on Resuscitation from Mine Gases," Technical paper number 77, Department of Interior, Bureau of Mines, Joseph A. Holmes, Director, 1914, Washington, Government Printing Office
4. "Schaefer Method of Resuscitation," The Colliery Engineer, August, 1913, Volume XXXIV, August 1913 to July 1914, Scranton, PA, International Textbook Co., page 53 (no author or editor listed)
5. Hughes, Martin, Roland Black, "Advanced Respiratory Critical Care,"  2011, New York, Oxford University Press; material from section 3.1: "Invasive Ventilation Basics: Development of Invasive Ventilation (history)."
6. Agasti, T.K. "Textbook of Anesthesia for Postgraduates," 2011, New Delhi, Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers, page 590
7. Safar, Peter, "Exhaled air ventilation and cardiopulmonary resuscitation," published in the following: Gordon, Archer S, "Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation: Conference Proceedings," May 23, 1966, Washington D.C., National Research Council
8. Donahue, Mary, "History of Lifesaving," DeAnza Collegge, http://faculty.deanza.edu/donahuemary/Historyoflifesaving, accessed 8/10/13
9. "Resuscitation of the apparently drowned," The Dominion Illustrated Monthly, February, 1893, Montreal and Toronto, Vol. II, NO. 1, pages 171- 175
10. Eisenberg, Mickey S., "Life in the Balance: Emergency Methods and the Quest to Reverse Sudden Death," 1997, New York, Oxford University Press
11. Knott, Arthur Reynolds, "Lie Saving and Artificial Respiration," 2nd edition, 1915, no city or publisher noted in book
12. "The Forty Ninth Annual Report of the Royal Humane Society, For the Recovery of  Persons Apparently Drowned or Dead," 1823, London, 
13. "History of the Humane Society of Massachusetts," 1845, Boston, Samuel N. Dickinson, Printer
14. Curry, James, "Observations on Apparent Death from drowning, hanging, suffocation by noxious vapours, fainting-fits, intoxication, lightning, exposure to cold, & etc., and an account of the means to be employed for recovery. To which are added the treatment proper in cases of poison, with caution and suggestions respecting various circumstances of sudden danger," 2nd edition, 1815, London (the 1st edition was published in 1792)
15. Meltzer, S. J., "History and analysis of the methods of resuscitation," Medical Record: A Weekly Journal of Medicine and Surgery, July 7, 1917, Volume 92, Number 1, New York, 
16. Meltzer, ibid, page2; the reference alluded here is to an article by Arthur Keith, Lancet, 1909, 1, page 745, 825, 895,
17. Rush, Benjamin, "Medical inquiries and observations," volume 1, 2nd edition, 1805, Philadelphia, chapter one: "An inquiry into the natural history of medicine among the Indians of North America, and a comparative view of their diseases and remedies with those of civilized nations, read before the American Philosophical Society, held at Philadelphia, on the 4th of February, 1774," pages 1-68

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1776: The double chambered bellows of Dr. John Hunter.

Dr. John Hunter helped make surgery a more
advanced form of science, he introduced the
first feeding tube and artificial respiration
used to keep asphyxiated infants alive.  He
is known as the father of artificial respiration.
(4, page 353)

Earlier we learned that Paracelsus experimented with bellows to provide positive pressure breaths through a tracheotomy. His attempts failed, although the idea was later taken up by other physicians, one of whom was Dr. John Hunter in 1776.
Dr.Hunter was a Scottish physician and surgeon who perfected the idea of Paracelsus that bellows could be used to resuscitate patients who stopped breathing. His idea was actually invented to breathe for asphyxiated neonates.

He invented a system of double chambered bellows that he experimented with by giving breaths to dogs. Because two bellows were used, this required two cavities leading to a single nozzle which was inserted into the nostril. One chamber inflated the lungs and the other deflated them. (1, page 67)

Use of the device "flourished" until a report in 1929 showed that "sudden injection" of air from the device could cause injury to the lungs. However, later magazine articles and books indicate the device was used occasionally when necessary, and the nozzle was either inserted into the airway as Hunter recommended, or sometimes to a tracheotomy. (1, page 67)

Dr. Hunter was among the original members of the Royal Humane Society, and his  device was adapted by the Society, and placed along various routes along lakes and rivers so they could be used in emergency situations.  Bellows were also adapted by the Amsterdam Life Saving Society and also placed along Amsterdam's canal.

Due to his invention he is often referred to as the father of artificial respiration. The product was generally referred to by Hunter's Bellows. (2, page 281)(3, page 2)

References:

1. Price, J.L., "The Evolution of Breathing Machines," (this must have been written in the 1950s or early 1960s because the last reference was to IPPB being used as a respirator) (reference to The Bible, Kings, 4: 34)
2. Tissler, Paul Louis Alexandre, "Pneumotherapy: Including Aerotherapy and inhalation...," 1903, Philadelphia, Blakiston's sons and Company, page 284,5
3. Hasan, Ashfaq, "Understanding Mechanical Ventilation: A practical Handbook," 2010, New York, Springer
4. Garrison, Fielding Hudson, "An introduction to the history of medicine," 1922, Philadelphia, W.B. Saunders Company

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1774: Humane Society: Recommended methods for reanimation

This is a depiction of the barrel-roll.  It was used to both remove water
from the victim's lungs, and as a means of providing artificial breaths.
As you might imagine, this method had the potential to be quite
hazardous for the victim, and this was probably the reason it was
ultimately rejected by the Royal Humane Society. 

During the 18th century there were various methods used to reannimate the bodies of the recently dead. The Royal Humane Society essentially settled on two.  The first involved warming the victim, and the second involved breathing for the victim.

Yet even before getting to that point, the first duty of the rescuer was to remove the victim from danger, which most of the time was water. That task accomplished, the next duty was to warm the victim in order to restore the victim's natural heat. (12, page 4)

Perhaps this was an idea initiated by primitive men and women, as they figured the victim to be dead, and cadavers are generally cold.  So given this way of thinking, warming the body would have been quite rational.  (12, page 4)

In 1792, James Curry explained this more clearly:

As a certain degree of Warmth is uniformly present while the living functions continue perfect; and as experience has shewn, that these functions are suspended or destroyed by any thing that greatly diminishes this Warmth,—it was very naturally concluded, that to restore Warmth to the body, was one of the most necessary, and, therefore, ought to be one of the first steps taken, in every case of Suspended Animation. (14, pages 35-36)

This is a depiction of the horse trot method of providing artificial breaths.
The trotting of the horse would provide the breaths, and by the patient
hanging off the side water could flow out of the lungs. 

The following were some methods of warming the victim, most of which were dependent on the materials available near the vicinity of the accident. (12, page 4)(also see 14, page 53-56)

1. Sunshine, if it is strong at the time
2. Drying the victim
3. Wrap victim in warm blankets (may be heated with hot water)
4. Lying the victim near the warm fire
5. Filling bottles with hot water and placing them at the bottom of the feet, near joints of knees, and under armpits
6. Placing a warming pan, heated bricks or rocks, wrapped in cloth, in the direction of the spine
7. Filling a large bladders with hot water, wrapped in flannel, applied to region of the heart and stomach
8. Covering the person in grass (if victim near grass house)
9. Covering the person in bags of grain (if victim near grainery)
10. Covering victim with warm ashes
11. Covering victim with embers
12. Covering the victim with warm sand
13. Placing the victim in a warm bath
14. A kindly person lying by the side of the victim (particularly useful for children) (12, page 4-5)
15. Applying friction, which supplies heat and also assists with circulation of the blood during prolonged efforts at breathing for a victim. (12, page 3, 4, 8 &12)
16. Instilling some strong stimulant, such as liquor, into the stomach.  This is done by inserting a flexible tube into the esophagus, filling the syringe with the solution, and then after connecting the syringe to the tubing, injecting the solution.  This should stimulate the heart and brain. (12, page 4)(14, page 60-61)
17. Bleeding to relieve congestion of blood in vessels (a cause of death among drowning victims).  Extracting some of the blood from the external jugular vein may relieve the brain and contribute to the restoration of life. Other than drowning, a sign that this is indicated is turgid neck veins. (8)(12, page 18)(12, page 9-10)(14, pages 42-43, and 62-63)
18. Bleeding by using cupping glasses on the neck. This is particularly necessary when the vessels of the neck are bulging or turgid, indicating congestion of the blood.  Such efforts were ultimately believed to release some blood from the brain, thus stimulating it. (14, page 71)
19. Bleeding by placing leaches on the head (particularly useful for hangings, which increases congestion in the brain) (14, page 71)
20. Applying heat by hot coals or heated excrement (necessary to replace natural heat) (8)(12, page 3)
21. Rubbing (friction) coarse salt over the patient's skin (8)(14, page 57-58)
22. Rubbing (friction) spirits of hartshorn, strong mustard, aromatic spirit of vinegar, etc. (14, page 57-58)
23. Infusion of tobacco up the rectum (may use a syringe and catheter)(15, page 1)
24. Many other methods were trialed

Meanwhile, over in America, the Native Americans have come up 

with a method of their own to reanimate those who have drowned.

According to Dr. Benjamin Rush, in his 1774 document called

"An inquiry into the natural history of medicine among the Indians of 

North America:   "Their practice of attempting to recover Drownd

 People, is irrational and unsuccessful. It consists in suspending the

 patient by the heels, in order that the water may flow from his mouth.

 This practice is founded on a belief that the patient dies from 

swallowing an excessive quantity of water. But modern 

observations teach us that drowned people die from another cause.

 This discovery has suggested a method of cure, directly opposite 

to that in use among the Indians; and has shown us that the

 practice of suspending by the heels is hurtful."  (17, page 25)

Second, along with applying heat, some type of effort to breathe for the patient must be attempted. Ideally, such effort would cause air to go into the airway, and water out.  

Some such methods included: 

1. Chest compressions, or pressing down on the chest  (1, page 102
2. Abdominal thrusts, or pushing down on the abdomen just below the rib cage. (1, page 102)
3. Rolling victim over a cask, and repeating this motion 
4. Placing victim on horse's back and set horse to a trot

These methods were ideal for near drownings.

There were also methods meant to stimulate a breath only, such as: 

1. Stimulating the mind (if the mind was stimulated the patient would wake up)
•  Rubbing the body with spirits (14, page 57-58)
2. Stimulating the nose (irritation of nose was believed to excite breathing (12, pages 8,9)
• Insert fireside bellows into anus & blow tobacco smoke into rectum (12, page 17)
• Tickling the nose with a feather (8)(12, page 8)(14, page 61)
• Tickling the nose with a feather dipped in spirits of hartshorn, strong mustard, aromatic spirit of vinegar, etc.(12, page 8)(14, page 60)
• Blowing a pinch of snuff or pepper into the nose (14, page 61)
• Applying stimulants (tobacco, bright light, etc.) to the eyes for several minutes (12, page 8)(14, page 56-57)
• A sharp shrill sound of a horn (12, page 8)
• Inducing vomiting using emetics such as epecacuanha,  emetic tartar or antimonial wine.(14, page 67 and 75)
• Fumigations, or placing smoke in a bowl and blowing it in the victims face or rectum (15, page 1)
3. Artificial Breathing

• Breathing for patient using mouth to mouth breathing (1, page 102)
• Fireside bellows (conveniently available in most fireplaces) (8)
• Rolling victim on their front over a cask or barrel (8) (15, page 2)
• Placing victim on a horse that was then set to a trot
1. Electric shocks:  (14, pages 63-66)
• The best known stimulant (14, pages 63-66)
• Known to excite contraction of the heart and other muscles of the body (14, pages 63-66)
• Should not be performed until all of the other methods have failed (14, pages 63-66)
• Dr. James Curry recommends moderate shocks to the chest. (14, pages 63-66) 

Depiction of tobacco smoke being blown into rectum to reanimate victim.

After year of experience, the following methods were ultimately rejected by the society: 

1. Holding up the victim by the heals (too hard to do, and too much trauma caused to the victim)(12, page 10)
2. Rolling on casks (due to trauma caused by such efforts)(12, page 10)(15, page 2)
3. Emetics tend to hasten recovery and action of vomiting is hazardous.  They may act as a sedative poison upon the vital principle in children, even when they don't cause vomiting.  (12, page 10)(14, page 67)
4. Rubbing (Friction) with salt or spirits (produces sores)(12, page 10)(14, page 57-58)
5. Injection of tobacco infusion (probably determined to be senseless)(12, page 10)
6. Fumigations by filling a bowl with smoke and blowing this smoke into the patient's airway or rectum may have opposite effect as desired. (12, page 10)(14, page 58-59)(15, page1)
7. Blowing a pinch of snuff into the nose to excite breathing (may be swallowed and cause sickness and disorder when the patient wakes up, if not fainting and death)(12, page 10)(14, page 61)
8. Inflation of the lungs by breathing into them (due to fears it contributed to spread of disease) (12, page 10)
9. Electric shocks to the brain (14, page 64)
10. Infusing tobacco up the rectum (studies showed it could kill a dog) (15, page 1)

Some of the methods listed above, such as stripping the victim of his clothing and wrapping him in a warm blanket, were recommended done as soon as the person was removed from danger.

There was no set timetable for any of the other methods to be performed. For example, there were many descriptions of cases whereby the victim did not receive breaths for several hours after he was removed from danger.  

References:  See post "1774:  The birth of the Royal Humane Society"

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1774: The birth of the Royal Humane Society

Figure 1 - This is one of two popular engravings
published and sold by the the Royal Humane Society.
This one depicts "a young man taken out of the water
apparently dead, in sight of his disconsolate parents."
(12, page v, xiii)

A primitive mother and her 8-year-old son are walking along the Nile when all of a sudden the child falls into the water.

A bystander pulls the boy out, but the boy appears to be dead: he's cold, pale-blue, and not breathing.  In other words: he is no longer animated.

Using her maternal instincts, the mother kneels over the boy and covers his mouth with her own in a panicked attempt to reanimate him.  As she exhales into his airway she observes her son's chest rise.  She does this for quite a while.  Yet despite her rash efforts her son does not survive.

Similar events must have occurred from time to time since the beginning of mankind. Since people did not understand the physiology of death and dying, their efforts would have been varied and the results mostly futile.

The most common response to such a situation would probably have been to idly stand by in a state of shock. This was described by the authors of a 1920 booklet by the Lungmotor company:

That drowning was probably a most frequent cause of accidental death in the primitive days of man, when like other animals he sought the drinking place and the swimming hole, is most probable, and is supported by Ethnological observations. That the awe and horror, which caused the early man to stand inactive beside his drowned dead is in a great measure still existent in the heart of modern man, is proven by every day observation; because where they are not definitely instructed, those measures of resuscitation which are taught by the experience of Life Saving Crews, are neglected by the general public. (1, page 3)

Figure 2 -- This engraving shows
the "subsequent resuscitation"
of the boy in figure 1.
Such engravings as these
show the 'great benevolence"
created by the efforts
of the Royal Humane Society
12, pages viii,xiii)

Indeed, there must have been a few precious moments when such a child was pulled from the water, awkward versions of mouth to mouth breathing performed, and the child survived. Perhaps a rescuer thumped on a child's chest or abdomen and the child survived. Or, perhaps he tickled the child's nose with a feather, and the child survived.

Such successes, although rare, would have brought great joy and celebration, thus encouraging the rescuers to share these stories. As later generations experienced similar situations, their response may have been similar to that of the characters in the stories.

There were random, almost vague, descriptions of artificial breathing in ancient writings, although these were generally hints of it being done, as opposed to descriptions of a specific life saving procedure.  A perfect example is the hint to mouth to mouth breathing in the Second Book of Kings where Elisha is depicted as resuscitating the child of a Shunamite woman.

When Elisha came into the house, he saw the child lying dead on his bed. 33 So he went in and shut the door behind the two of them and prayed to the Lord. 34 Then he went up and lay on the child, putting his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands. And as he stretched himself upon him, the flesh of the child became warm.35 Then he got up again and walked once back and forth in the house, and went up and stretched himself upon him. The child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. (2 Kings 4: 33-36

However, according to an 1823 Annual Report of the Royal Humane Society:

"The art of resuscitating the apparently dead does not appear to have been known to the ancients." (12, page v)

Chances are the report is correct, and the procedure, or efforts to reannimate, were rarely performed in the ancient world.  When they were, they were rarely successful.  When they were successful, chances are the child would have lived irregardless of the technique used.

When a child who had been submerged in water survived, chances are he was breathing shallow, and had skin of a purplish color, and was cool to the touch, similar to a cadaver. He was alive, but not conscious. Eventually, whether efforts were made or not, he would take in a deep breath, open his eyes, and spit out water from his mouth.

He was, as Dr James Curry explained in 1792, in a state of "Apparent Death" but not yet in a state of "Absolute Death." Curry said: (14, page 1)

The important difference between the two states is this,—that in absolute death, the Vital Principle is completely extinguished, whilst in apparent death, it only lies dormant, and may again be roused into action, and the person thereby completely restored to life and health. (14, page 1)

By the 18th century the state of "apparent death" was often referred to as "suspended animation." Attempts at reviving, or at resuscitation, were referred to as "reanimation attempts." A person who was "brought back to life" was thought to have been "reanimated."

And regardless of the truth, credit was always given to the rescuer, or more likely God.  Her brave efforts were the reason the child was brought back to life, but her actions were guided by the almighty God.  This was the case of the Shunamite child, where the works of Elisha were proof that God existed.

The 1823 report suggested that the first official report of "recovery from drowning and hanging" did not occur until 1650. The report further notes that "it does not seem, however, that these instances did not excite any public interest, or that any serious investigation of the subject of SUSPENDED ANIMATION took place until the middle of the last century (about 1750)." (12, page v)

The first official report of artificial respiration was made in 1773, and this ultimately lead to a group of men gathering together to discuss how they might be able to help save the lives of those in need.  They would ultimately form an organization, the Royal Humane Society.

Men victims on the mind of these men were those who were pulled from water. However, there were other reasons a person might might suddenly lack animation, such as hangings or other such methods of suicide attempts.  A medical reason might be appoplexy, which is an old term used to describe what we would now refer to as a stroke.  (12, page 32)

Yet the most common reason for an unexpected death was drowning.  There were simply too many young men and children who were falling into unprotected waters only to meet their maker.

The first known evidence of mouth to mouth breathing was

Such was noted by the Lungmotor Company:

The first reliable history of a resuscitation from drowning was that performed by M. Reamer in Switzerland. This was reported to the French Academy of Sciences and translated into English by Dr. Crogan in 1773. About this time Dr. J. Fothergill published his "Physical Dissertation on Drowning," which was read before the Royal Society in England. In 1773, the first society for the rescue of those apparently drowned was instituted at Amsterdam, Holland (in 1767). In 1774, Dr. Crogan's translation of Reamer's paper, together with Crogan's success in resuscitating those apparently drowned, enlisted the sympathy of Dr. Hawes and these two gentlemen, with thirty-two of their friends, organized the Royal Humane Society which appointed Dr. John Mullwood as their first physician, and proceeded to establish stations throughout the empire to save the lives of those in a state of suspended animation due to apparent drowning. (1, page 3)(also see 12, pages v-vii)(the date 1767 comes from reference 14, page iii and 15, page 1)

Now it is well documented that the first time mouth to mouth resuscitation was recommended was by the Paris Academy of Sciences in 1740. It was essentially recommended for the reanimation of a near drowning victims.

Dr. J. Fothergill noted a variety of methods used in saving drowned victims, and in his report to the Royal Society noted "the possibility of saving many lives without risking anything." (12, page vi)

While his report went relatively ignored initially, it did ultimately lead, as noted above, to the formation of a society in Amsterdam called The Life Saving Society of Amsterdam, or The Life Saving Society of the Apparently Drowned.

A report noted:

Finding that a strong and general prejudice existed against the practicability of Resuscitation, and that the idea was even ridiculed as hopeless and chimerical, he determined to demonstrate it. With this view he publicly offered rewards to persons who, between London and Westminster Bridges, should, within a certain period from the occurrence of an accident, rescue drowned persons, and bring them to places appointed on shore for their reception. At these places he and his friends restored several lives. During a whole year Dr. (William) Hawes continued to pay these rewards himself. At the end of this period Dr. Cogan represented to him the injury his private fortune must sustain by such continued expenses, and kindly offered to unite with him for the formation of the HUMANE SOCIETY, which at first consisted of 32 individuals, their respective private friends. (12, vi-vii)

Perhaps responsible for the formation of the Royal Humane Society, and its success, was due to the fact there were physicians in England at that time (many of them of notable fame).  Dr. Hawes is responsible for forming the Humane Society, and Dr. John Hunter was the first director.  His brother Dr. William Hunter, along with Dr. Cullen, Dr. Monro Secundus, and Fothergill were also members. (15, page 1)

Another reason for the success of the organization is that...

...from the start start kept records of all cases of attempted resuscitation which came to its knowledge. At various intervals it formulated and published rules, in conformity with the views which prevailed, at the time, and stimulated individuals to and formed committees for special investigations with the object of discovering reliable methods to be employed. (15, page 1)

The keeping of data made it possible to review cases, and determine what methods worked and what methods did not work. Methods that worked would continue to be recommended as the rules and recommendations were updated. Methods that did not work, or that caused excessive trauma to the body that made caring for the reanimated patient difficult, were noted as high risk or no longer recommended.

The committees made it possible to research for better wisdom and newer methods of resuscitation. The committees also made it possible for the Humane Society to adjust to changes in society, as when new emergent situations emerged, new safety and rescue recommendations were made.

For example, along with rescuing drowned victims, the society ultimately learned how to save people from hangings, electrocutions, intoxication, gas poisoning, drug overdoses, fainting, exposure to cold, suffocation, still born births, etc.

In other words, the members of the Royal Humane Society did the best they could with the data they presently had, and as they learned better they did better.

*For example, in 1786 the Humane Society of Massachusettes was formed. (13, page 3) In 1824 the Royal National Lifeboat Association was formed.  (9, page 171), 

References: 

1. "Drowning: Historical-Statistical Methods of Resuscitation," no author nor editor listed, Published by Lungmotor Company, Boston, Massachusetts, 1920
2. "Pulmotor advertises gas company," Gas Age, volume 29, 1922, New York, Robbins Publishing Company Inc. 
3. Cannon, Walter Bradford, George Washington Crile, Joseph Erlanger, Yandell Henderson, "Report of the Committee on Resuscitation from Mine Gases," Technical paper number 77, Department of Interior, Bureau of Mines, Joseph A. Holmes, Director, 1914, Washington, Government Printing Office
4. "Schaefer Method of Resuscitation," The Colliery Engineer, August, 1913, Volume XXXIV, August 1913 to July 1914, Scranton, PA, International Textbook Co., page 53 (no author or editor listed)
5. Hughes, Martin, Roland Black, "Advanced Respiratory Critical Care,"  2011, New York, Oxford University Press; material from section 3.1: "Invasive Ventilation Basics: Development of Invasive Ventilation (history)."
6. Agasti, T.K. "Textbook of Anesthesia for Postgraduates," 2011, New Delhi, Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers, page 590
7. Safar, Peter, "Exhaled air ventilation and cardiopulmonary resuscitation," published in the following: Gordon, Archer S, "Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation: Conference Proceedings," May 23, 1966, Washington D.C., National Research Council
8. Donahue, Mary, "History of Lifesaving," DeAnza Collegge, http://faculty.deanza.edu/donahuemary/Historyoflifesaving, accessed 8/10/13
9. "Resuscitation of the apparently drowned," The Dominion Illustrated Monthly, February, 1893, Montreal and Toronto, Vol. II, NO. 1, pages 171- 175
10. Eisenberg, Mickey S., "Life in the Balance: Emergency Methods and the Quest to Reverse Sudden Death," 1997, New York, Oxford University Press
11. Knott, Arthur Reynolds, "Lie Saving and Artificial Respiration," 2nd edition, 1915, no city or publisher noted in book
12. "The Forty Ninth Annual Report of the Royal Humane Society, For the Recovery of  Persons Apparently Drowned or Dead," 1823, London, 
13. "History of the Humane Society of Massachusetts," 1845, Boston, Samuel N. Dickinson, Printer
14. Curry, James, "Observations on Apparent Death from drowning, hanging, suffocation by noxious vapours, fainting-fits, intoxication, lightning, exposure to cold, & etc., and an account of the means to be employed for recovery. To which are added the treatment proper in cases of poison, with caution and suggestions respecting various circumstances of sudden danger," 2nd edition, 1815, London (the 1st edition was published in 1792)
15. Meltzer, S. J., "History and analysis of the methods of resuscitation," Medical Record: A Weekly Journal of Medicine and Surgery, July 7, 1917, Volume 92, Number 1, New York, 
16. Meltzer, ibid, page2; the reference alluded here is to an article by Arthur Keith, Lancet, 1909, 1, page 745, 825, 895,
17. Rush, Benjamin, "Medical inquiries and observations," volume 1, 2nd edition, 1805, Philadelphia, chapter one: "An inquiry into the natural history of medicine among the Indians of North America, and a comparative view of their diseases and remedies with those of civilized nations, read before the American Philosophical Society, held at Philadelphia, on the 4th of February, 1774," pages 1-68

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