Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1845-06-26

.atlOn Oh SSuShtiOH' |.
Fully satisfied now of our power to
induce total insensibility, determined
10 operate on her the next day at noon
but carefully concealed any such de- |
sign from the patient and her friends,
who did not expect its performance Till
several days later.
On the 18th January, at twenty MN
utes past IL A. M, Mrs. c. was put to
sleep in As seconds, without touch or
pass of any kind, the facility with
which the mesmeric influence was pro-
duced having gradually increased al
each sitting. At - o'clock M, in the
presence of Professors Ford, Means,
Garyin and Newton, and DR., Halsee,
the patient being in profound sleep,
prepared her dress for the operation,and
requested my professional brethren to
note the pulse, respiration, complexion,
countenance, &C., before, during, and
after the amputation, in order TO de-
tect any evidence of pain or modifca'
tion of the functions. AS Mr.. kenrlck
had never witnessed surgical opera
ton, he feared he might loose his self
possession, and requested to be blind
folded, which was done. He now seat>
ed himself on the couch near the pa
}tient, and held her hand in his during
the operation. This was accomplish
ed by two eIiptical incisions about eight
Inches in length, comprehending be-
tween them the nipple and a consldera-
BILE portion of skin, after which the in.
Iteguments were dssected up in the u
sual manner, and the entire mamma
remove. 1t weighed sixteen ounces.
The whole was then left open about
three quarters of an hour, in order to
secure the bleeding vessels, six ofwhich
were ligated. The ordinary dressing
was applied, and all appearances Of
blood carefully removed, SO that they
might not be seen by the patient when
aroused. The amount of hemorrhage
was rather more than is usual in such
cases. ~
!, During the operation the patient
gave no indication whatever of sensl-
, bility, nor was any the functions OBJ
served by those present, modified in the
, least degree. She remained in the
same sound and quiet sleep as before
the use of the knife. Subsequently the
+. pectoral muscle, which had been laie
, bare, was twice or thrice seen to con-
tract when touched with the sponge ir
t removing some blood. About fifleer
r minutes after the operation,a tremulou'
d action was perceived in her lower jaw
;. which was instantaneously arrested b.
n the application of the mesmeriser'
II hand to the patients head. This phe'
,f| nomenon recurrcd in about ten min
II utes after and was again in the sam
d manner quieted. Professor Ford VIII
}. counted the pulse and respiration, state
n that before any preparation was made
r. for the operation, the pulse was 96, ant
4 the respiration l6 per minute; that attel
). moving the patient to arrange her dress
: for the operation, and just before thi!
: was commenced, the pulse was 50 ane
/. the respiration II, that Immediately
j after the detachment of the breast the
d pulse was 96-respiration not counted
: and that after the final adjustment o
;. the bandages and dress, which required
|. the patient to be raised and moved a
e bout, the pulse was 90 and the respi-
| ration l6. All present concur in stat
n ing that neither tho placid count enanc'
r Of the patient nor the peculiar natura
o blush Of the cheeks, experienced an.
: change whatever during the whole pro
cess; that she continued in the sam
;. profound and quiet sleep, in which sh'
d was before noted, and that, had the,
J. not been aware Of what was beng done
r. they would not have suspected It iron
). any indication furnished by the pa
Ic tents condition. y.e
s. The patient having been permitte
le to sleep on about half an hour after tn
at final arrangement Of her dress, the me.
le meriser made passes over the seat
I'd the operation in order to lessen its ser
le sibility, and aroused her in the usu;
* manner, when she engaged in cheerfi
E. conversation with Mr.. Kendrick an
y myself, as though she had no su.
picion of what had taken place. the
|. introduced to her the gentlemen, VII
'e had placed themselves SO as not to
'p seen by her on aWakinS, and observe
le that had invited them to come in dl
10 ring her sleep in order that we mig
re fully test her inscnsibility, preparator
il to the operation. After few minute
h. Of conversation, ! asked her when 81
would like 10 have the operation pc
O. formed? To which she replied the sool
er er the better, as she was anxious to q
a. home. added, "Do you really thin
ne that could remove your breast whe
he asleep without your knowIedge7" Al
n swer. "Why, Doctor, the fact is, th;
from fhn un rIoI,c -: -. -.