Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1879-06-26
Miseellznfons. g


One frequently hears, nowadays. OF tue
Injection Of medicines into the veins, by
means OF hypodermic syringe. az one OF
the new fashioned modes OF cure. Ny own
experience In the matter. limited as u Is.
may be useful as q warning both TO physi-
clans and sufferers. and IL may be interest
ing FIRST. because II Is real: secondly. As
we must all die some time or other. sup
pose most OF u wonder now snd then hoa
1t will feel Now " what I went through
with was not death. IL Was n, least so near
1t that a. far a. ply steal sensation went it
was practically the same thing.
bad been l for some time. suffering
from frequent returns Of severe pains.
which the doctors ,houshI might be rheu-
matic. or might be neuralgic, or might be
something else. At any Iste. they could
not hit upon the medicines either 10 relieve
these pains or 10 prevent their recurrence.
Meantime. while they were experimenting,
I was getting weak and thin; so 1t was de
termined 20 try aud ease me OF my misery,
II even only for lime. In hopes that nature
would gather little strength. and perhaps
succeed In doing what the doctors had
failed ln--curibx inc.
| had a great objection 10 taking opium
on account OF its well known Injurious ef-
fecis. and had borne n great deal OF pain
rather than take IL. The doctors. however.
overcame my objections by assuring me
that the Injection OF morphine under the
skin was not si,endcd with the same injury
20 the constitution, and Was Usually more
efiicsclous IN cases like mine than any 9th
er way OF tAklug the drug. Accordingly
WAS furnished with a very small syringe.
which would hold just the righ, dose. TO
the end OF which Was attached = sharp
pointed gold tube abont the size OF SAIL
or's needle. small bottle OF morphine
was also provided. and promised faith
folly 10 use II according 10 directions OF
the return OF severe pain Ny medical a,
tendAut was very anxious TO try IL then
aed there himself. but as II the time OF his
vist | was enjoying an interval Of ease,
would not consent TO this, feeling confident
as indeed, he himself did--of my capac-
ity TO administer IL, and being without any
anxiety a. 10 the result.
That night. before going 10 bed, several
twinses which had been a. me for an hour
or more, gave unmis;akablc warning of
another night of sleepless torment. unless
could lind relief somewhere. or course
thought Of the little syringe. II had
any spprehenslous about the effect. GER
talhly should have had some assistance At
hand; but am an unimag inaiive indivld-
ual. taking things a. they come. so said
goodnight. went 10 my room, and locked
the door as usual. When my prepar Ations
for the nigh: were complete. took my new
friend out OF its pretty little morocco case.
and flled the syringe only about two-,hirds
| full OF the solution. for such were my doc
tors orders. as I had never previously
| taken morphine IL any way; Ii is To this
precautiou probably owe my life. Then,
! according to instruction, | pinched up a
| piece OF the calf OF my leg tightly between
. 4 III
| serted The point OF the tube under the skin
| with 4 5exreriiy which, l remember
| pleased me al the time. as thought what
= skillfuI surgeon might have been lost to
suffering humanity by the untoward cir
cumstances OF my early life. and gently
introduced into my system the magic fluid
| which WAS 10 relieve one of all suffering
| II did IL with q vengeance, and with uBex-
pected rapidity, too.
The nrst sensation WAS as OF something
| not belonging TO me crawling under my
skin, and mounting rapidly up my back
| bone. spreading thence all over my body.
as il went. This was not at all painful To
me, nor WAS l at all alarmed by 1t, for
| though certainly very peculiar. l took it
all at first as part Of the programme, and
| tar Is to hastily unlock the door. thinking.
There is no telling how long shall sleep
and if don't open the door In the morning
they will be frightened"
BY this time the crawling feeling had
mounted the back Of my neck. could
trace 1t as it moved; my limbs were begin
ming TO refuse TO serve me; | was obliged
to totter 20 the bed without putting out my
| light, for though not the least sleepy,
should have fallen had not helped my self
by chairs and tables; There | lay, eyes
wide open, senses all alive. quite out Of
pain. but no idea Of going TO sleep. When
the crawling thing, whatever it was reached
the back Of my head, 1t seemed to give .
slight blow to that part. and Immediately
| lost all power over my limbs. Still re-
taiued perfect consciousness. heard the
movements going on in different parts Of
the house. saw the moon rise and peer
| In at one Of the windows. and l remem-
bered with q slight feeling Of annoyance,
that, about midnight. the light would come
| In full upon my bed through another wiz.
| dow, the curtain OF which had neglected
to pull down. II had seen burglars break
ing into the room could not have moved
nor spoken. was not troubled about this,
however. nor indeed much about anything
else on earth. l watched my symptoms
with care and interest. and felt certain
was not going to sleep, though what was
coming next { could NOT sue.s. The only
| feeling Of concern about anything that
remember was thought that arose in my
mind like this: "what horrible fuss r.
| fe will make when she finds me in this
state" Even this did not trouble me much,
for it really did not seem to be any businss.
| of mine.
By degrees. but NO slowly as TO be hard
" noticeable. l lost all consciousness Ol
| my extremifies. Al first. though could
not control them. Was quite aware that
had hands aud feet. as . man in perfect
health knows is without either toochins
them or feeling pleasure or pam 10 them
Now seemed TO lose them. TO 60 iron
them, or rather shrink from them, - from