THE ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY.
For the benefit of my readers who may not be familiar with the history of this truly noble Society, I give the following brief sketch, which cannot fail to be interesting : As the year of its institution denotes, the Society is now in existence 115 years. It is supported by voluntary contributions. It confers honorary rewards for saving life from drowning. It collects and circulates the most approved and effectual methods for recovering persons apparently drowned. • It provides suitable appara tus in and around London for rescuing persons from drowning. It encourages swimming exercises at public schools, by awarding silver medallions and certificates. These are also open to the boys of H. M. ' training ships.
About the middle of the last century, the penetrating genius of , Dr. I. Fothergill (distinguished already by his advanced knowledge of different branches of his noble profession) addressed a paper to the Royal Society, in which he maintained the possibility of saving many lives—of those apparently drowned—without risking anything ; and, although this theory was new, at the time little interest seemed to have been aroused in the minds of the medical philosophers of his time. The glory of proving the correctness of the theory was reserved for a later period. This was first attempted by M. Reaumer, an in genious foreigner, who had successfully resuscitated several persons who were apparently drowned, in Switzerland, in the year 1767, reporting the facts to the Academy of Sciences, at Paris.
The city of Amsterdam soon after instituted a society to promote efforts in the same direction. The memoirs of this society were translated into English in 1773 by Dr. Cogan, for the purpose of convincing the English people of the truth of Dr. Fothergill's theory ; and Dr. Cogan's work fell into the hands of Dr. Hawes, who zealously devoted his life to the cause lie seems to have delighted in pursuing. That he met with great difficulty in establishing the theory is apparent; but Dr. Hawes nobly stuck to his work, even paying, out of his own pocket, rewards for cases to be brought to him of persons who had been rescued, but still apparently dead—and so several such per sons were restored by him, and the rewards offered publicly were duly paid. The doctor's generosity evoked a strong sympathy, and Dr. Cogan came to his aid, and both these gentlemen, on consultation, seem to have concluded that it was desirable to establish the Humane Society—and they were supported by thirty-two friends—and with these Drs. Hawes and Cogan laid the foundation of the Society.
Until the end of Dr. Hawes' life the institution continued to receive his unremitting attention and vigilant care. Of the thirty-two gentle men who had the distinguished honor of establishing, in conjunction with Dr. Hawes and Dr. Cogan, the Royal Humane Society, it may be worth mentioning, six were medical men, six were clergymen, two Fellows of the Royal Society—the remainder are not designated as to their calling, but it may be assumed they were merchants, probably having interests connected with the shipping trade. The incorporation of the Society exhibits most impressively what power there is in a single mind when moved to accomplish objects of a benign character ; and to time persevering efforts of Dr. Hawes the- English nation is indebted for the formation of a Society, the benefits of which are enjoyed wherever a British ship sails. The Society's usefulness is extending more and more every year, as indeed it deserves to do ; its honors are eagerly sought after, and its decorations are proudly worn by heroes on land and sea, and there is no doubt this will be the case for all time.
As to the work actually 4ccomplished, it may be mentioned that up to 31 Dec., 1888, over 23,000 cases have received awards, consist ing of gold, silver, and bronze medals, additional clasps, certificates of honor on parchment, vellum, etc., as well as pecuniary rewards.
There are over 274 life-saving apparatus stations supplied by the Society, with the following apparatus : The life-buoy ; the ro e drag ; the pole-drag ; the bar-drag ; the hand-line, for icemen ; t e cork-jacket, for icemen ; the ice-laddef' ; ropes ; ice-boats ; ice-sleighs for carrying the ordinary boats on the ice.
The Society's principal Receiving-House is on the north bank of the Serpentine River, Hyde-Park, built by the Society on ground granted by His late Majesty, King George the Third, and subsequently extended by His late Majesty King William the Fourth, in 1834. Proper attendants and warm baths are in constant readiness during the bathing and skating seasons, to prevent the fatal or injurious effects of any accident. Boats with proper boatmen, supplied with drags, etc., are always in attendance during the bathing season on the Serpentine, to render immediate assistance in event of any accident occurring.
In 1888, the awards of the Society are as follows : one gold medal (Stanhope) ; 25 silver medals ; 172 bronze medals ; 8 clasps ; 147 testimonials inscribed on vellum ; 73 testimonials inscribed on parch ment ; 39 pecuniary rewards, with certificates.