Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-07-10

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there was deep hollow at the pit of the stOm.
seh, and excruciating pain throughout the
oiaPhrsgmatEc region The. muscles of the
HecS we're perfsttif rigid, and those Of the
Gae. -Partiolpatng in the tetahic spasms, all
the JOINTS of the trupk of the body seemed
auchylozed, (stiaered, SC. that when removed
from the he'd, he lay in the arms of those who
carried him ike a marble statue. He still
referred, all his pain to the diaphragm. The
abdomen, was forcibly thrust forward and
lmmovab!e during the respiratory act. which
was was maintained wholly BY the pectoral muscles.
no complaint was made of tho hand from this
tlme, Morphia was again given and contiu-
ue9 throughout the night, without any miti:
S':.on ot the symptoms. .ar
On the following morning, the disease was
evidently proceeding with rapidity to fatal
issue. Inc pulse was eighty.five, laborins
and constructed; the hearts action tumultiolis
and irregular; and skin of the natusaltaSssL.
perature, and the intellect umimpared. I
gave the following injection .--Oil of fturpen-
une, one o.; tincture of opium, two drachms;
assatGtlda mixture twelve OF hop water, EIGHT
oz. mix them for an injection. At the sane
time, two grains ofmorphia were sprinkled
upon the surface of the blister, and the fol-
loving medicines directed to be given eyerv
alternate hour: Take assafotida, eight grains;
let them be made iuto bolus to be taken i'm
medlatety, and repeated every two hours; aud
and with these take acetate of Ihorphiai one
grain; extract of belladonna, one grain; extract
OF conlum, four grains made into pill, to be
taken one hour after the bolps, and repeated
every two hours.
-Four hours after this he was evidently worse.
Blister were now place on the abdomen and
as the injection was retained, gave him
three drops of croton, which soon acted conf
ously, yet without any remission of the symp-
toms.
fair trial Of the Opiatcs and ant anti.spssimod.
les mad now been given; twenty-six hours
having been truitlessly occupied in their adj
ministration. The progress of the case ,s'' bsS
oeen uninterrupted from bad to worse. Tho
patient lay immovably fixed, his weight
resting on the back of the head. and the
buttocks, the trunk Ofhis body between these
TWO points forming an arch, whose concayitv
was toward the mattrass, and within which 4
child might have crept without touching
hlm. He could. not open his mouth at ali.
SO trmiy were his jaws locked. Hence I had
to break in couple of his molar teeth, which
L felt justified in doing under tho circum-
stances, in order to administer the uecessarv
medicines.
Deglutition was difficult, and the Inns were
distorted into horrible sardonic grin bis
eyes giarcd from their sockets. and every fan.
ture was indicative of the extremity of ankle
ty and suffering. He was perfectly sensible
ana would reply to questions, but always as
briefly as he could, aud begging to Be ieftaione.
Pulse 30, sharp and jerking; skin hot and
dry; cheeks flushed. l make this detail 10
enable me to contrast this picture with that
WhIcUwas presently assumed.
AS those remedies which experience and mr.
had
tory, and IN the assurance of tho speedy death
OF my patient if | could oppose no check to the
progress of this friehtiul disease, it suddenly
occurred to me to make the trial of producinS
profound lntoxication. The most striking
symptom in the pathology ofthis condition IS,
undoubtedly, the influence it possesses over!
the muscles of voluntary motion. / coniec.
tured, turthee; that by administering alcohol
ireety, 1t might, by entering the blood, and
independently of its intoxicating effect estab-
ilsh another condition Of the nervous centres.
incompatible with the continuance of the te-
tanic spasn. L had everything to hone and
nothing to fear from its effects. if Irantiors-
y watched, and considering the homeless CON
dItIon OF my patient 1 could discover no re-
cord OF the use of the remedies SO ex-
hlbted, but therapeutics and analogy
confirmed my suggestion, and directed me
whore authority ceased to guide. Idetermin-
ed, therefore, to be limited in its exhibition
only by the appearance of the condition I de-
sired to produce, or by the occurrence of anv
injurious symptoms that could be fairly trac-
ed to its use.
Being provided with a mixture or alcohol
ana water, IN equal parts, gave him at once
SIX ounces Of such mixture, and four ouncea
more in a quarter of an hour-myself sittiner
by to note:the result. In twenty-five minutes
the patient-for the first time since the attach
lay on his side, in a profound and tranquil
sleep. without any appearance of apopIectio
stertor Or other cerebral congestion. Every
muscle was In state Of quiet relaxation. and
the sense Of pain had vanished as ifby charm.
The tumultuous action of the heart had ceas.
ed (; the pulse had sunk to go, and was fuller
In volume; the features had resumed their
natural expression. and the whole surface of
the body was drenched in profuse perspira-
ton.
Forseventy-t#o hours he was kept under
Ihe influence of the remedy, complaining of
no pain land without any return of fOpisthotonos
or clonic sPasm, the bowels acting kindly and
frequently under the use of c1Oton oil, and tho
oplates being abandoned. ~ 49,.
On the sixteenth day the alcoholic influence
was Withdrawn, as a test of his real condition.
With return of consciousness, the tetanio
symptoms returned, though in much less de-
gree, and as instantly and perfectly Disappear
ed when the alcohol was again exhibited.
On the evening of the seventeenth day the
back became agained arched, the breathing
hurried. He was, at this time, able 70 am,
wer questions, and to move in his bed the
cionlc spasms suddenly superyened, and he
expired, after their subsistence, without
struggle, or single evidence of pain, appa-
rentiytrom exhaustion.
A word about the alcohol I administered
IN this ease As 1 reasoned then, in the light
OF my young experience, it was excusabIe as a