1. A STRETCHER FOR USE IN ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION COMPRISING A SUPPORT UPON WHICH A PATIENT MAY BE LAID IN PRONE POSITION, SAID SUPPORT CONSISTING OF A PAIR OF LATERALLY SPACED FRAME MEMBERS INTERCONNECTED BY MEANS OF A PAIR OF SPACED APART TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING FLEXIBLE ELEMENTS ADAPTED TO SUPPORT SAID PATIENT; A PAIR OF SUPPORT PADS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID SUPPORT FOR MOVEMENT IN A VERTICAL PLANE BETWEEN SAID FLEXIBLE ELEMENTS, ONE OF SAID PADS BEING MOUNTED ON A RIGID BACKING MEMBER AND POSITIONED SO AS TO UNDERLIE THE PELVIS OF SAID PATIENT AND THE OTHER OF SAID PADS BEING MOUNTED ON A FLEXIBLE BACKING MEMBER AND POSITIONED SO AS TO UNDERLIE THE ABDOMEN OF SAID PATIENT; MEANS FOR LOCKING SAID SUPPORT PADS IN A PRESELECTED POSITION; MEANS INTERCONNECTING SAID PADS WHEREBY MOVEMENT OF ONE OF THE PADS SIMULTANEOUSLY PRODUCES A CORRESPONDING AND OPPOSITE MOVEMENT OF THE OTHER PAD; AND MEANS OPERABLE TO RAISE AND LOWER SAID PADS IN ALTERNATION THEREBY TO APPLY PRESSURE ALTERNATELY TO SAID ABDOMEN AND SAID PELVIS TO CAUSE ALTERNATE EXPIRATIONS AND INSPIRATIONS BY THE PATIENT.