The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-19
DEATH UNDER CIILOR0F0RM.
MR. CORNWELL'S UNFORTUNITE CHOICE
or AN dN.ESTHETIC


Three Limitations Followed by nm Instantly
Fatal ResuIt-Drs. Stimson md Cham
bers's Vain Efforts to Save Their Patient.
John X. Cornwcll's death in his boarding
house. Mt 1871 West Tenth street. on Thursday.
while chloroform was being administered to
him. has excited interest in the medical profess
sion and will be made the subject OF report by
the attending physicians, DR.. Chambers OF 81
West Ninth street and Prof. Louis A. Stimson OF
the Medical Department OF the New York Uni
vcrsity. Mr. Cornwe was about As years old
and apparently I'm fair general health. though
he was suffering from an nilment that re-
quired the repetition, after tho lapse OF two
years. OF painful surgical operation. He
told DIR. Chambers that no could not bear
tho pain without taking an an@sthetic.
He greatly preferred chloroform to ether. be-
cause the latter. he said made him sick. DR..
Chambers told him that If he insisted on taking
chloroform he must call in another physician
Of experience. This led to the attendance Of
Prof. Stmson.
Mr. Cornwcll purchased tho chloroform him
self. At ~ O'Clock on Thursday afternoon all
was in readiness. Under the advice Of both OF
the physicians the patient was induced to mako
nm attempt to undergo the operation without
the chlorotorm. but ut the very beginning his
courage failed. lie was then told 10 lie on
bed. because n reclining position OF the body Is
usually viewed as safer than an upright one
for tho administration OF chlorotorm. Or.
Chambers poured not more than halt hspoon-
ful of the LIQUID on a towel and laid the moist
cnod part over Mr. Cornwell's mouth and nos
trs Mt the same time telling him to breathe
naturally ms though the towel WIS not there.
Prof. Stimson. assuming the part requr:
ing the greater amount OF experiences, held
his fingers on the patients pulse, which was
beating regularly There were barely three in
halations Of the .chloroiorm, when Prof. slim
son discovered that the pulse had suddenly
Stopped. Tho towel was AZ once removed. but
aitrr brief Tutoring Of his breath u stopped.
! cess. Previously Few drops ot nitrte 81 amyl
/ wore uut on piece Of cloth and placed Mt his
nostris. but either because there was not
enough breath To- carry its ynpor into the lungs
or from some other cause 1t failed to have any
ctlert. Nitric Of amyl usually causes an im-
! mediate Quickonug Of the hearts movement.
] and Is therefore recommended ~ an antidote to
! thu dangerous effects OF chorufOrm.
The two physicians at last gave up hope Of
! their patients recovery and sent for his wife.
! who had been persuaded 10 go on n visit to a
! friend 70. remain during, the operation. DR..
| % the Health Department. was called TO assist
Drs. Stmson and Chambers in making post
BODY were W eSamned but in none was there
! found on the first examination any mark OF
/ DEATH. Then Dr. Janeway sent Tor n micro
| scope In order to make = closer examination.
/ No fatty degeneration had boon Observable with
! the naked eye. but with the iusirument the SUP,
] StitutiOn Of iut in place Of muscular HIRE could
/ Doe seen plainy. This substitution Of fat serves
| to weaken the muscular action OF the heart and
| to make IL irregular.
Coroner Croker WINS summoned by DR.. Cham
| hers. and Deputy Coroner MrNhinnir viewed
| tho body. 4 permit Of burial WAS granted. by
The Coroner listening to the statements OF the
| three physicians. The cause ~ death reported
| generation Of the heart" II II explained by
/ DR.. Chambers that. though tho fatty dcgenera-
/ tion had not yet made progress enough 10 cause
! death und"r ordinary circumstances. yet 1t had
/ boon abb" 10 do so under the first accelerating
effects ~ the chl1rniorm. Commissioner jane
| way told DR.. Chambers that no physician could
/ possibly have discovered the condition Of Mr..
! CurnweU's heart from observations made be-
| fore death. Mrs. Cornwell, and u brother and a
! hrother-in law ~ the dead man, say they believe
the physicians did the best they could have
| done under the circumstances. The burial
permit was granted pending an inquest" but
1t a. said there will be- no inquest because Coro-
nor Croker judges that the allegations Of three
| rrputnble physicians, Commissioner Janeway,
| Prof. Stinison. and DR.. Chambers. MS to tho
cnuse II death. make tho holding Of a formal
inquiry unnecessary.