The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1879-06-26
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WAS IT DEATH!

One frequently hears, nowadays, of the
| injection of medicines into the veins, by
means of a hypodelmic syringe, as one Of
| the new-fashioned modes Of cure. NY
own experience in the matter, limited as
| it is, may be useful as a warning both to
physicians and sufferers, and it may be
interesting, first, because it is real;
secondly, as we must ali die some time
or other, I suppose most of us wonder
now and then how it viii feel. Now, if
| what went through with was not death,
it was at least 50 Eear it that as far as
physical seasation went it was practically
the same thing.
L had been i'll for some time, suffering
from frequent returns of severe pains,
/ which the doctors thought might be
rheumatic, or might be neuralgia, or
might be something else. At any rate,
| they could not hit upon the medicines
| either to relieve these pains or to prevent
their recurrence. Meantime, while they
were experimenting, 7 vas getting wey,l,-
and thin; so it was determined to try and
case me of my misery, il even only for a
time, in hopes that nature would gather
q little strength, and perhaps succeed in
/ doing what the doctors had failed in
curing me.
/ had great objection to taking
opium on account of its well-known in
! iurious effects, and ] had borne a great
deal of pain rather than take it. The
doctors, however, overcame my objec.
tons by assur ing me that the injection Of
morphine under the skin was not attend
ed with the same injury to the constitu-
ton, and was usually more efficacious in
cases like mine than any other way Of
taking the drug. Accordingly I was
furnished with a very small syringe,
which would hold just the right dose, to
the end of which was attached sharp
pointed gold tube about the size of a
sailors needle. 4 small bottle of NOR
phine was also provided, and promised
| faithfully to use it according to directions
on the return Of severe pain. My medi-
cal attendant WIS very anxious to try it
then and there himself, but as at the
time of his visit was enjoying an inter
val of ease, I would not consent to this,
feeling confdent-as, indeed, he himself
did-of my capacity to administer it, and
being without any anxiety as to the re-
suit.
That night, before going to bed, sever
al twinges which had been at me for an
hour or more, gave unmistakable waning
of another night of sleepless torment, un-
/ less / conld find relief somewhere. OF
course I thought of the little syringe. IF
[ had had any apprehensions about the
/ effects, [ certainly sholld have had some
| assistance at hand; but ] am an unimagi-
/ native individual, taking things as they
come, so [ said goodnight, went to my
room, and locked the door as usual.
| When my preparations for the night were
complete, [ took my new friend out of
| its pretty little morocco case, and filed
the syringe only about two-thirds full of
the solution, for such were my doctors
orders, as | had never previously taken
morphine in any way; It is to this pre-
| caution l probably owe my life. Then,
according to instruction, | pinched up a
piece of the calf of my leg tightly be-
tween the finger and thumb of my left
/ hand, inserted the point OF the tubeun-
der the skin with dexterity which, I re-
member, pleased me at the time, as
thought what skillful surgeon might
have been lost to suffering humanity by
the untoward circumstances OF my early
| life, and gently introduced into my sys-
/ TEN the magic fluid which was to relieve
one of all suffering. 1t did it with ven
geance, and with unexpected rapidity,
/ too.
/ The first sensation was rs OF something
not belonging to ne crawling under my
skin, and mounting rapidly up my back.
bone, spreading thence all over MY body,
as it went. This was not at all painful
to me, nor was | at all alarmed by it, for
though certainly very peculiar, took it
all at first as part of the programme, and
troubled myself no more about it than SO
far as to hastily unlock the door. think
ing, There is no telling how long l shall