On July 4, 1939, a girl aged 7 years jumped from a load of hay into a bin of finely ground dry feed containing oats, wheat, corn and corncobs. She sank into this mixture as though it were a liquid, being completely submerged with the exception of one hand. Her brother saw her jump and then he heard two frightened cries. He summoned their father, who with great difficulty was able to extricate her. It is believed that she was submerged for at least ten minutes.
When she was removed from the bin she was cyanotic, unconscious and not breathing. Her mother, who had had nurses' training, cleaned out her daughter's nose and mouth and gave her artificial respiration. Breathing was restored, but it was very rapid and shallow and the cyanotic condition did not improve.
Drs. D. L. Murphy and R. L. Baird, of Dixon, five miles distant, were