"Notwithstanding the common People are very generally disposed to be compassionate, and may wish to give all Assistance to drowned Persons, it frequently happens they do not, only because they dare not; imagining they expose themselves by it to Prosecutions. It is therefore necessary, that they should know, and it cannot be too often repeated, in order to eradicate such a pernicious Prejudice, that the Magistrates have never interposed to prevent People from trying every possible Means to recover such unfortunate Persons, as shall be drowned and taken out of the Water. It is only in those Cases, when the Persons are known to be absolutely and irrecoverably dead, that Justice renders it necessary to seize their Bodies." __Chapter XXIX.__ _Of Substances stopt between the Mouth and the Stomach._ __Sect.__ 406. The Food we take in descends from the Mouth through a very strait Passage or Chanel, called the _Oesophagus_, the Gullet, which, going parallel with the Spine or Backbone, joins to, or terminates at, the Stomach. It happens sometimes that different Bodies are stopt in this Chanel, without being able either to descend or to return up again; whether this Difficulty arises from their being too large; or whether it be owing to their having such Angles or Points, as by penetrating into, and adhering to the Sides of this membranous Canal, absolutely prevent the usual Action and Motion of it. Sec. 407. Very dangerous Symptoms arise from this Stoppage, which are frequently attended with a most acute Pain in the Part; and at other Times, with a very incommodious, rather than painful, Sensation; sometimes a very ineffectual Commotion at, or rising of, the Stomach, attended with great Anguish; and if the Stoppage be so circumstanced, that the _Glottis_ is closed, or the Wind-pipe compressed, a dreadful Suffocation is the Consequence: the Patient cannot breathe, the Lungs are quite distended; and the Blood being unable to return from the Head, the Countenance becomes red, then livid; the Neck swells; the Oppression increases, and the poor Sufferer speedily dies. When the Patient's Breathing is not stopt, nor greatly oppressed; if the Passage is not entirely blocked up, and he can swallow something, he lives very easily for a few Days, and then his Case becomes a particular Disorder of the _Oesophagus_, or Gullet. But if the Passage is absolutely closed, and the Obstruction cannot be removed for many Days, a terrible Death is the Consequence.