St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1865-03-30

cation.-ED. DEM. i .z.'.... T. -
UNDER THE KNIFE.
The critical moment h.s arrived, 90
having u"dressed myself, I take = last
look around aud mount the table, where
I an At once seized on and arranged
for the convenience of carving by the
two .ides-de-camp. Nj. c., Who, With
bis sleeves tucked up, sh.. been stand
ing in such = position - TO screen the
little what,not and its glittering load
from my sight, takes ; last look At the
wound, evidently determining in bis
own mind the precise spot where he
viii make the 6rst gash, and then re.
firing pace or two, mods to DR.. s.,
Who has placed himself behind me-
That gentleman At once steps forward
and commences to apply the chloroform.
The instrument he uses for this pur-
pose, appears to me to partake very
much Of the form Of meerschaum
pipe, in the bowl Of which is placed ,
sponge containing ths fluid, = cover
fitting tightly over the top Of the bowl.
The long pipe-stem terminates in a cup
intended to cover the nose and mouth
OF the patient. At the upper end Of
the stem is = valve or stopcock, which
regulates the amount Of v.por 70 be in-
b.led. I am told to d.av long deep
i"h,l.tions IS rteadil, and slowly a,
possible, and for two or three seconds
the only effect perceive is light cho-
king sensation, which makes me gasp
for breath. Then, howcver,.I see him
turn on the stopoock little fuller, and
Immediately l feel myself becoming
g;ddy, tho sensation Of choking increas.
es, and ! find more difficulty in draw.
ing my breath. The objects in the
room become more blurred and dance
before my eyes, my brain begins to
throb and whirl in my head, and 1 feel
weight like lead on my heart. And
now my blood begins to surge violently
through my veins, aud every nerve iu
my body tingIes,-beats IKE = sledge
hammer on my temples,-it grows fas-
ter and faster, wilder and wilder the
room rushes round and round. I can.
hot bear it; 1 cannot breathe ; 1 try to
struggle, and l feel I can just raise my
arm, which, in my state Of semi. con.
sciousness, I perceive is At once held
down by one Of those abom,uable stu.
dents, who is doubtless enjoying the
spectacle amazingly, and gloating owe,
my distress. A roaring sound 6lls my
ears; l shall die; I strive to raise my.
self to struggle, but I cannot move
try to scream; l try to breathe ; I gasp
wildly; l am suhocating; IL
A pause, long sensible pause, a.
the end Of which l feel that I have been
asleep, and then l am gradually .woke
BY hearing the gentle plash Of water
dropping on my pillow. l hear it quite
distinctly, and I know At once what il
is. but for the kings ransom I could
not open my eyes, nor stir hand or foot
am conscious but motionless. I hea,
tho murmar Of voices, but I cannot dis.
tinguish what is said. Presently there
!s another plash, and somehow I know
that they are sprinkling my face, but
though I hear it on my pillow, l can.
not feelit; and now I hear the voice.
once more. This time I. can distin.
guish what is said. Il is Dr.. 8. speak
ing, and ho says: "He is coming round
fast" Another moment, aud l can
open my eyes. DR.. s. il standing owe,
me with basin Of water, from which
he is sprinkliDg my face and bathing
my temples, though oddly enough,
cannot feel either bis touch or the Va.
ter. Mr.. G. is standing with bis back
to me washing bis haads, and one o.
the pupils is packing up the mahogany
box, while the other is watching me
with q look which seems to me very
much like one Of regret that it il all
over, and there is no more to be seen
The nurse is carrying away the twe
buckets, and ] can see that the wate,
Is very red. I ses al this at /. glance
! am perfectly conscious ; and yet