The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1845-03-28

EriirPatiOn of the Norma Of ffn'dfe IN
the Mesmeric Sleep, rithout any cri
deuce of sensibiliiy during the operation.
BY l.. A. Dsgus, N. d., Professor 81
Physiology. DC, IA The Med!eai College
Of Georgia.
Ga the Sd Of January, 1915, Mrs. Clark,
(wile of Mr.. Jesse Clark. Of Columbia 90,
Gal came 10 this city for the purpose OF
getting me to remove schrrous iumor oil
her right mamma, which had been gradual.
~ increasing for The last three years, and
which had now attained the size OF tur.
KEYS egg. The tumor had never caused
any pain OF consequence, was not adherent
to the skin; nor did i, iInplicatc any OF the
axillary glands. Mrs. c. is about AZ
wears of age, has never borne child, and
her health, though by no means robust,
was pretty good, and had not been impair
ed by the evolution Of the tumor. The
operation having been determined upon for
tho following day, Mrs. G. remarked 10
me that she had been advised by Mr..
Kenrick TO be mesmerised, but rs she knew
nothing about il, she would like TO have
my advice, and would abide by il, to winch
replied that there were several well au-
thenlicated cases on record, in which sur
gical operations had been performed, un-
der mesmeric influence, without the con-
seriousness of the patient, that would be
happy to les, the subject in her case, and
that | would endcayor to mesmerlse her,
instead of operating as has been proposed,
on the day following.
Ga the 4th of January, at ii o'clock,
A. NJ, | called on Mrs. G. and was IN
formed that on the precedin, evening she
bad been put TO sleep by Mr.. b. +. Ken
rick (at whose house she fesided.) | then
mesmerised her myself, and induced sleep
in about fifteen minutes. Finding my pa
tient susceptible TO the mesmeric influence,
and rejecting that It would not ba conve-
nient for the same person TO maintain this
influence and 10 perform a surgical ope-
ration at the same time, requested Mr..
Kenrick 10 mesmerise Mrs. e.. morning
aud evening, al stated hours, until lnsensi-
bilty could be induced. This was regular
ly done, with gradually increasing effect,
when, on the evening of the 9th OF Jnna-
~, sleep was induced in five minutes, and
The prick Of pin was attended with no
manifestation of pain. The sittIngs were
continued, and the patients insensibilI:y
daily tested by myself and others IN va
rious WAYS. On the 9th January, invited
Professor Ford to be present, aud utter
pricking and pnching strongly the patient
without evidence of pain, the mesmerlser
was requested to leave the room, when we
exposed the breast, handled i, roughly in
examining the tumor, and readJusted the
dress, without the consciousness Of the pa
I lient. We then hold 10 her nostrIls a vial
Of strong spirits OF Hartshorn, which she
4 breathed freely for a minute or two, with.
out the least indication OF sensation, unless
the fact tina, she swallowed once be regar.
Jed as such, instead Of mere reflex action.
On the llth of January, in presence Of
Professors Ford and Means, in addition to
the usual, made, with my pocket knife
an incson about two inches in length, and
half an inch in depth, into the patients leg
without indication Of sensation.
Fully satisfied now Of our power to in.
duce total insensibIliiy, determined 10
operate on her the next day at noon, but
carefully concealed any such design from
the patient and her friends, who did not ex.
pect its performance until several days
later.
On the 18th January, at 20 minutes
past IL, A. NJ, Mrs. c. was put to sleep
in forty five seconds, without touch or pass
Of any kind, the facility with which the
mesmeric Influence was produced having
gradually increased at each sitting. Al
II o'clock, NJ, in presence Of Professors
Ford, Means, Garvin, Newton and DR..
Halsee, the patient being in profound
sleep, | prepared her dress for The opera
ton, and requested my professional breth.
rem 10 note her pulse, respiration, complex
ion, countenance, &C., before, during, aud
after the amputation, in order 10 detect any
evidence Of pain, or modification Of the
functions. As Mr.. kenrick had never
witnessed surgical operation, nc feared
he might lose his self.possessIon, and re.
quested TO be bIlndfolded which was done
He now seated himself on The couch near
the patient and held her hand in his during
the operation. This was accomplished by
two eliplical incsons about eight inches
in length, comprehendng between them
the nipple and considerable portion 81
skin, after which the integumcnts were
dissected up in the usual manner, ond the
entire mamma removed. Ii weighed six.
teen ounces. The wound was left op4r
about three quarters Of an hour, III order
to secure the bleeding vessels, six Of which
were liga,ed. The ordinary dressing was
applied, and all appearances Of blood care.
fully removed, so that they might not be
seen by the patient when aroused. The
amount of hemorrhage was rather more
than in such cases.
During the operation the patient gave
no indication whatever Of senslbiity, mol
was any Of the functions observed by those
present modified in The least degree. She
remained 10 the same sound and quiet sleeF
as before the use Of the knife. Subse
quen,ly the pectoral muscle, which hac
Z bcen laid hare was twice ar thrice seen &c