Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1880-07-30
VAS HDEATH?


VAS ITDEATH?
One frequently hears, nowadays, of
the injection of medicine into the veins
by means of hypodermic syringe, as
one of the new-fashioned modes of cure.
Ny own experience, in the matter,
limited as it is, may be useful as
warning both to physicians and suffer-
ers, and it may be interesting, first, be-
cause it is real !; secondly, as we must
die some time or other, I suppose most
OF us wonder now and then how it will
feel. Now, if what I went through was
not death, it was at least so near it that
us far as physical sensation went it was
practically the same thing. 49,.
I had been i'll for some time, suffering
from frequent returns of severe pains,
which the doctors thought might be
rheumatic, or neuralgia, or might be
something else. At any rate, they could
not hit upon the medicines either to re-
lieve these pains or to prevent their
recurrence. Meanwhile, they were ex-
perimenting, and I was getting weak
and thin; SO it was determined to try
and ease mesof my misery, if even only
for time, in hopes that nature would
gather little strength, and perhaps
succeed in doing what the doctors had
failed in-curing me. .
I had great objection to taking
opium, on account Of its well-known in
furious effects, and I had borne great
deal Of pain rather than take it. The
doctors, however, overcame my objec-
tons by assuring me that the injection
of morphine under the skin was not at
tended with the same injury to the con-
stitution, and was usually more effica-
cious in cases like mine than any other
way of taking the drug.
Accordingly, 7 was furnished with
very small syringe, which would hold just
the right dose, to the end Of which was
attached q sharp pointed gold tube about
the size Of sailors needle. A small
bottle Of morphine was also provided,
and I promised faithfully to use it ac-
cording to directions on the return Of
severe pain. Ny medical attendant was
very anxious to try it then and there
himself, but, as Mt the time of his visit
I was enjoying an interval of ease, I
would not consent to this, feeling conf
dent-as, indeed, he himself did-of my
capacity to administer it, and being
without anxiety as to the result.
That night, before going to bed, sew.
eral severe twinges, which had been at
me for an hour or more, gave unmistak-
able warning Of another night of sleep
less torment, unless could find relief
somewhere. Of course I thought Of the
little syringe. If I had had any appre-
tensions about the effects, I certainly
should have had some assistance at
hand; but I am an unimaginative indi-
vidual, taking things as they come, SO I
said goodnight, went TO my room and
locked the door as usual. When my
preparations for the night were COM
plete I took my new friend out Of the
pretty little morocco case and filed the
syringe only about two-thirds full Of the
solution, for such were the doctors
orders, as had never previously taken
morphine in any way it is to this pre-
caution I probably owe my life. Then,
according to instruction, I pinohed 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 tube I'M
der the skin with dexterity which I
remember pleased me at the time, as 7
thought what skillful surgeon might
have been lost to suffering humanity by
the untoward circumstances Of my early
lite, and gently introduced into my sys,
tenn the magic fluid which was to relieve
me Of all my suffering. 1tdid it with q
vengeance, andwith nne1pectedrapidity,
too. : - =
The first sensation was of something
not belonging to me crawling under my
kin, and mounting rapidly up my back
bone, spreading thence al over my body
Is it went. This was not at all painful
% me, nor was ] alarmed by it; for,
though certainly very peculiar, I took it
all at first as part Of the programme,
and troubled myself no more about it
than so fer as TO- hastily unlock the door,
thinking, s There il no telling how long
shall sleep, and Il I don't open the
door in the morning they will be fright
ened to death" 3 =, ...,:..se,.,
By this timethe crawling feeling had
mounted to the back Of my neck. +
could trace II. as it moved; my limbs
were beginning to refuse to serve me; ]
was obliged to tetter to the bed,without
putting out my. light, for, though not
the least sleepy, I should have fallen
had I not helped myself BY chairs and
table. There, : I lay, eyes wide open,
senses all alive. quite ont Of pair,
but no idea Of going to sleep. When
the crawling thing, whatever it was,
reached the back, Of my head, il seemed
to give slight blow to that part, and
Immediately I lost all power over my
limbs. Still I retained perfect con-
seriousness. Ihesrd the movements go
ing on in different parts Of the honse.
I saw the moon rise and peer ia Of o.le
of the windows, and I remembered E
slight feeling Of annoyance thai, about
midnight, the light would come in
through another wind the curtain q
which / had neglected to pull down. e
I had seen bnrgia1s breaking Into the
room, Iconld not hsve moved o. spoken.
Twas not troubled about this, however
nor mnch about anything else on earth.
I watched my synnptoms with cars and
interest, ana tat csrtain ! was going e