The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-16
A MEDICAL MYSTERY.

EXTRAORDINARY CASE OF EXTENDED sTUPoR-
THE ADMINISTRATION OF HALF GRAIN OF
MORPHINE FOLLOWED by DEATH-THE DOC
TORS PUZZLED.
The medical fraternity OF Westminster county
are exceedingly puzzled over case wherein the
usual prescription OF morphine, administered for
the purpose OF producing inconsistencies, to
enable the physician to amputate a fractured
limb, resulted in death yesterday morning. The
circumstances OF the case are as follows:-
on the afternoon OF the 18th inst. Patrolman
John P sheridan, OF the Thrty-nitn precinct
Klngsbrdge, took carriage to 20 TO a funeral,
but before he mad proceeded lar bis horse became
unmanageable and the onlcer jumped from
the vehicle TO the ground for the pur-
pose of holding him; but his foot I'M
fortunately became entangled In the wheel,
and before he could extric2te 1t his leg was
fractured in two places. Some OF the polceman's
friends promptly came 10 his relief, ana he was
conveyed TO a hotel near by. Police Surgeon
Varian was at once despatched Tor, and, arriving,
rendered medical assistance, setting the bones
ana binding the leg to pillow intending, after
the nervous shock TO the mans system had sum-
GENTLY abated, to perform an amputation, which
was rendered absolutely necessary from the ma
ture OF the injuries. The patient, suffering In
tensely from pain, moaned Tor something TO as
suage It, and the physician, procuring gram OF
morphine, and dividing 1t into four equal parts,
administered one OF them, with instructions to an
attendant TO give another within u lew hours In
the first failed TO produce sleep. THIS was III
the evening, about ten O'Clock. Two hours later
the attendants seeing Sheridan stlll awake ana
tossing restessy gave him the second dose. Three
hours more passed without any Visible effect from
the medicine ana the nurse was about TO renew
the dose when Sheridan sank into deep sleep
from winch he never awakened. DIR. Varlan paid
two or three visits the next day, each time fselng
satisfied Inat the mans condiuon was natural, the
protracted sleep being pui the ordinary result OF
the combined influence OF the opiate aud the
nervous shock Wishing, however, to Sc; at rest
the anxiety displayed by Sneridan's relatives, DR..
Narlan concluded 10 call Police Surgeon Pur-
row. OF Fordham, INTO consultation, and
the latter physician arrived Monday after
noon, and alter examining the patent pro-
nounced him Going as well as could he
expected under the circumstances, giving the as
sufance that there was nothing 20 be feared All
day Tuesday Sheridan lay unconscious, OCCASION
ally opening his eye-lds and rolling his eyes IN
hstless, wandering manner. Every EFFORT to
u low moaning sound would escape his lips. DIR.
Narian at last became alarmed and determined
upon calling council oil physicians. Accordingly
ne mao summoned Drs. Purroy and Kellogg, OF
Fordham; Or. Parson, oil Kingsordge; Or. Shrady
whom made an extended and careful examination
OF the patient. An electric battery was brought
into requlsiton and powerful shocks were given.
Tut they produced apparently not toe slight
est effect upon the sleeper. Other means
were then tired, but with no better
success, aud the physicians were At last com.
PEELED To ADMIT their skill ba1ied. lie could not
De awakened. sheridan continued In this state OF
stupor until half-past eleven O'Clock yesterday
morning. wnen he breatued his last. The pnysi-
cans were divoed IN opinion as TO the cause OF
death, some attrtDutlng IL TO the morphine that
had been administered and others cOntendng
that the mans brain had been injured W the acc-
dent. Thls latter theory seems unsupported by
facts inasmucn as no Commissions on the head were
to be lound The quantity OF morphine given was
not an unusual one; II anything IL was below the
average dose.
Coroner Miller OF Westminster, has been nori-
fed OF the case and will hold an Inquest without
delay.
Al late hour last night the inquest was con-
cluded, the Jury rendering verdict that the de-
ceased came 10 mis- death from nemorrhage Of the
brain, aud not from an overdose oil morphine.