The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1864-10-28
Under the Knife.

look around and noun; the table. where I
am at once seized on and arranged ior the
convenience of the carving bv the two
aidc,-,ir-camp Mr. C.. who. with hi,
sleeves tucked up. has been standing in
such il position H. To screen the little what
moi and i.> differing load from my sight.
takcs a l;i>t look al the wound. evidently
determining in hi> own mind the precise
spot where lac will make the first cash.
ami then reilrln" pace or two. mods 10
Dr- =. vino has placed himself behind
mo. The gentleman at once steps forward
and commences TO apply the chloroform
The instrument hc Uses for this purpose
appears TO me To partake VERY much of
thu t"rm of Il meerSchaum pipe. In the
bowl Of which is placed sponge con-
tanning the fluid. :, cover fitting tightly
over the top OF the bowl. The long pipe
stem terminates in a cup intended TO cover
the mosc and mouth OF the patient Al
the upper end of the stem Is valve or
st"pc"ci.. which egulates the amount of
vapor 10 be inhaled am told 10 draw
long deep Inspirations aS steadily and
slowly a. possible, and for two or three
>econ'i> the on!r effect | perceive Is a
>li@hi choking sensation which makes me
gasp for breath. Then, however. | seem
To turn on the stopcock little fuller. and
Immediately | feel mvseli becoming giddy.
the sensation of choking increases. and |
t.: more and more difficulty in drawing
my breath The objects OF the room be-
come blurred and dance before NV ewes;
mv BRAIN l.,@im> Ia ikrob and whiri In my
hy..,i. and feel Il weight like a lead on
my heart And now INV blood hegirs 10
surge VIOLENTLY through NV veins. and
hr.i.~ like >ied.e hammer "n nv fem
pes: e,cry nerve in INV body IingleS. If
.rnw- Caster ana faster wilder and wilder;
the rooIm rll>i.,> r,aln,l and round. can
mui l..lr IL. cannot bre;,''lc. | irv 10
>ir,l"4ie and ic7.l can ili>t reli>e my arm.
which. IN iny state of scmi-con>ciouSne>>.
perceive l. II once held down hv one OF
Hos. abomimallc students. who l. doubtless
'.niuyin- the >peciaci" amazingly, and
.io;iim" oycr mv distress. \ rearing
-,r.nd iill~ mv ear. shall die | strive TO
raise my~.-it To >trui@rlc. hut L cannot
move try Ia scream. | Try 10 breathe.
Gasp wildly. am >utfocating, II
i Iau-c. a i.ng sensible pause. al the
al "t' y. hich | :,el that have been
,.-i,rp: md then am gradually awoke
- .carinr thc "enilc pla>h OF wafer drop
PING om my pillow. | hear it quite di>-
finr,l,. and fmoM al once whai Ii l.:
hat tur iIlc kim r;.n>om | could not op-
.m any ",.-. ar stir hand or loot | am
,ari-,.inr- bat m"iinulcSS- hear the muir
mur oi' voices. bu, cannot distinguish what
! >aid, Presently there i another pla>h.
and somehow know tilcv arc sprinkling
my iaya: lat rhousl | hear Ii f:lli on the
piIlom cannot feel it : and now | hear
III, :oi,'e- once more This time can
distinguish what l. slid. Ii * DIR. s.
speaking. anil he >a,>. lie i coming
rui.l .;,~l~ Another moment and ] can
u!..n mv eyr>. DIR, - i standing ov-
81 liz with a basin of wafer. from which
hc j. S;rimhlinr my face and bathing INV
temples. though oddly enough. c;nnoi
,;c,l ci'hcr hi touch or t!ic wafer. Mr.,
G i $tandim" with hi> back Ia me
washing h.> lands and one OF the pupils
i packing up the mahogany box, while
th.. other l. watching ne with Il look
which -, M lo ne very much Ike enc of
rrcrct til; ii i all over and that there l.
in more Ia Ia. seen. The nurse i carry
! inm away the twn nucket>. and can even
Sc tIa, ti.e wafer Is red see al this
at a @iancc | am perfectly conscious and
vet can feel nothing Not onlr am |
ircc from pain. hui there Is = numhne,9
over all lmy limls cannot feel nv OWN
touch have no -rnS:Ition whatever In
thi- state am liiic,l into bed and l.lacei
in comtor,ah" position. not even the
movement c.,u>im" any sensation Grad
ualy. however. a slight tinglins comes on.
somewhat similar 10 thai which iakc>
place when a hand or foot has. what l.
commonly called. zone to sleep This Is
~l,cc"cried 10y "a >martin@ pam III the seat
of the wound, which increases IN intensity
mill. after some minutes. il becomes very
severe. Sensation has returned tc nv
lmiy. AMI with il comes the after PAIN al
the operation This. of course, * ail In,
more severe because | have been spareC
the torture OF the operation itself. 1t doe
not. however. last very long, AMI within
hall an hour i has entirely ccased.-BTt
i>h -iig..q Gnd Nary H~rce'r-