The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1881-01-15
OF GENERAL INTEREST.
4 Physlelaa's Heroic OoeFl0eo.

THs funeral services for Dr.. Wilbur F. San
ford, Of Grecnpoint, L. l., who died of diph'
iberia on Sunday morning, were yesterday
performed In his native place. Mtddletown.
Conn. DR.. Sanford was only thirty-six years
Old, but be had attained an eminent position
IN bis profession. Alt people OF Greenpoint
seem to mourn bis loss, especially rs he lost
MS lie IN trying to save that Of patient. Two
weeks ago DIR. Sanford was called TO the bed
side OF child who was suffering from dph'
theria. II was very malignant case, and DR..
Sanford watched the child day and night. AT
last tho air passages were filled up, and the
child would have BEEN choked to death had
not DIR. Sanford, who had his knife In hand,
immediately made an opening III the windpipe,
through which, with Il small rubber tube, be
drew out with bis own mouth the poisonous
dutd. tic prolonged the life Of the child for
several hours BY the operation, but sacrificed
his own life. This why Of conducting such an
operation Is regarded by all surgeons ~ ex'
tremeiy hazardous to the operator. Three
French surgeons arc known to have lost their
lives in the same way, Young DR.. Hutchin'
son, the son Of distinguished surgeon OF
Brooklyn, was the only American victim, As fur
% known prior to the case Of DR.. Sanford.
A short time after the operation the poison
which had inoculated DIR. Sanfords blood be-
gan to do Its work. As soon rs it was known
that he was suffering from dphtheria all the
allopathic doctors In Grcenp0int offered thci:
services. Two or three were With him con.
tinuslIy. The patient had always been very
delicate, and this was against him. Ii, by
strong nourishment, he could be kept alive for
certain number Of days, 1t was known that
the crisis would 10 passed and he would re.
cover. Frozen beet blood was introduced into
his stomach, and brandy was injected under
the skin. When the patient was able 70 swal-
low anything ut all he was given icc-cOId
champagne. Food in the most condensed
form was introduced By every possible means.
But nothing could save him, aud he finally
said In whisper, "lt's no use, gentlemen;
I've got to 60" He died of ,lsthenia, or zen.
eral weakness, and did not live long enough
to reach that stage Of the disease In which Q
surgical operation becomes necessary.
DR.. Van Giesen, speaking Of the case Of DR..
Sanford yesterday, said: If he had been .
strong man have no doubt that We would
have pulled him through. Years ago strong.
iy advised him, AS good many other friends
did also, to give up the practice Of medicine,
o. he could not stand it, He finally accepted
our advice. He went through the course Of
the Columbia Law School, graduating with
honors. But soon after being admitted to the
bar he returned to practicing medicine. He
was liked by everybody, and he Immediately
picked up MI Of his old practice
Speaking Of diphtheria, DR.. Van Giesen
said: =" have studied thi, ,'iscase for moro
than thirty years. have read many VOL
umes devoted to it, and have had great
many cases OF diphtheria In my prao-
tce. Sometimes l have said to myself,
We'll, at last / know what diphtheris it,
But il you were to ask me now to dc.
scribe the etioloyy Of this disease, l should
answer, Il give 1t up Fortunately, however,
We are able to treat 1t successfully in great
many cases. Ny method of treatment Il told
IN Just one word-sustain. There are ply.
sicians who assert that they have never lost .
case Of diphtheria. Those physicians are eth.
or humbugs or else they have neve: had many
cases OF dphtheria. have sometimes treated
% many as thirty cases successfully; and then
have lost halt q dozen, one right after the
other. 1t is disease that has different de-
grces OF malignancy. One year its attacks
may be very mild and at It's next visit 1t may
kill almost every one who becomes infected
With 1t. As for the present epidemic of diph.
liberia, ] am afraid that We have only seen the
beginning Of It.. When l see q diphtheria
patient. | can generally make up my mind
whether he can be saved or not. But tho
treatment Is the same for all-food and stinu,
lants."--N. Y. Sun.