The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-12-16


ment that time shall not be allowed to
order special election, and the NV Senator
reach his seat efore the Legi.a ure Is brought
to vote ON the selecti - OF United States
Senator, thu precludiog ~ vote in opp sition
to the re-ele ton OF Sewar This l. . higher
law trick, AMI, so far as depriving the Twenty
ninth district Of vote in the choice of Unit
eo States Senator, il will, no doubt, prove sue
cesful.
The Case Of DR.. Bealc-Revclations o. the New
York Dentists.
For some days past, ee ings have been held
by the de fists O. New York, with view to
elicit facts bearing on the recent case of DR..
Beale, Of Philaaelp ia: nd in the p oceediugs
Of these meetings. VIII ch have obtained wide
publicity from the ress, revelations of the
most star ling and unexpected character have
been made. It seems that n. use of chloro.
form and ether, in q majority Of cases, has been
followed by the most unpleasant and shameful
consequences. DR.. Barlow testihes that she
has known ladies (un1er chloroform), Of course
unconsciously, but seeming not 80 at the mo-
ment, divulge their dearest and most delicate
secrets" DR.. Castle lis satisfied Of the in
fluence Of ether over the reproductive system"
Nh. Francis declares that lady to whom he
gave chioroform fused language Of the most
ridiculous, profaDe, and even obscene descrip.
ton" Br. Hazlstt confesses that female
patient Of bis, "as she gradually felt the ex-
element caused by the ether, caught him round
the neck in the most endearing manner" Mr..
Hurd had lady under the influence of ether,
"chase himself (the operator) round the room
affording most unmistakeable signs ofperverted
feeling SO much so that her mortified husband
begged him not to give her any more" Other
medical men gave testimony to the like effect.
These revelations have taken the COM
munity by surprise. Whatever may have been
the motive of the New York dentists in hold
ing their meeting and giving publicity to
the facts elected thereat, it is something very
strange that practice fraught with such
abominable effects should have been in vogue
for so many ears without single attempt
to expose or discard it. People have been
sending their wives and their daughters to the
dentists to take chloroform ever since its
introduction, and though, according to the
concurrent testimony of the most eminent
practitioners, it has hardly ever been admins
tered without causing the innocent sufferer to
violate the laws of modesty, no one has ever
heard word on the subject till dentist is sent
toprison for an indecent assault on young girl
II DR.. Beale had not happened to be tried on
Miss Mudge's evidence, the chances are that the
public would have remained in ignorance Of the
evil effects Of chlorofJrm, and ladies would
have continued, as, according to the dentists,
they lave done heretofore, to betray them
selves in the most shameful way, till the eod of
time. The dentists will have some trou-
BILE in clearing themselves from the
imputs.ions which are necessary TO-
terence from this fact. 1t is impossible
to discard the suspicion that they have not
discouraged the use Of chloroform as they ought
to have done; but that on the contrary, in the
hands of interruptions men, 1t had been largely
used as an instrument for the qualification OF
the vilest of purposes. Had the professional
men who met the other day to declare the fruit
of their experience of chloroform been i'm
pressed with true sense of their duty to the
public, they would have told us long ago all we
know now, or at all events they would have re-
fused unequivocally to use so dangerous a
drug 10 Their pra tice. Having failed to do
either, they must bear the consequences and
blame themselves if their character suffers
Hereafter /, viii not rest with them to dis
card chloroform in oeatal practice. No man
who has read the statements already published
will allow those under his authority to subject
themselves to 80 infamous an experiment in
future. Women especially will bear in mind
that the first practitioners in the city have
avowed that females under its influence act as
no pure woman could bear the thought Of act
ing. Whether DR.. Beale was or was not guilty
of the crime Of which he has been convicted,
is matter which rests with the consciences Of
the jury before whom he was tried, and the
Governor of Pennsy lvania the public at large
have no right to interfere therein. Bat his
case entirely sets at rest the question of the
| use of chloroiorm in dental practice.
In truth, there is no nee essity whatever for
the use Of any pain-killer in dental surgery. Ia
operations where the bistoury aud similar ins'ru
ments are used-in the extraction Of tumor,
| the amputation Of q limb, or certain cases of
lithotomy-it may possibly be still regarded as
| sale to use ether or chloroform. But no sdch
excuse can be urged for the employment of
these agents when no more terrible operation
than the extraction Of tooth is to be borne.
| People who cannot submit to have tooth
drawn without chloroform, should make up their
minds to suffer toothache in patience.
SAN GREEN REDrvIvus.-As will be seen by
reference to another column, that shrewd Yam
kee though eccentric writer" The Man Wot
Nominated Frank Pierce"-has returned to the
capital, and writes further sketch of his ex-
pcriences. Some such saustic visitor was
| much needed at the present time. If Mr..