Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1881-01-06
OCCURRENCES OF INTEREST.
A Doctors Devotion.

A Doctor's Devotion.
TIE funeral services for DR.. Wilbur +. SAN
ford, Of Greenpoint, L. L, who died Of diph-
iberia on Sunday morning, were yesterday
performed In his native place, Middletown,
Conn. DIR. Sanford was only thirty-six years
old, but he had attained an eminent position
in his profession. Allthe people OF Greenpoint
seem to mourn his loss, especially as he lost
his life in trying to save that of q patient. Two
weeks ago DIR. Sanford was called to the bed
side of q child who was suffering from diph-
iberia 1t was very Malignant case, and DIR.
Sanford watched the child day and night. At
last the 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 in the windpipe,
through which, with q small rubber tube, he
drew out with his own mouth the poisonous
fluid. He prolonged the life of the child for
several hours by the operation, but sacrificed
his own life. This way of conducting such an
operation is regarded by all surgeons as ex-
tremely hazardous to the operator. Three
French surgeons are known to have lost their
lives in the same way, Young DIR. Hutchin-
son, the son of q distinguished surgeon Of
Brooklyn,was theonly American victim, as far
as known prior to the case of DIR. Sanford.
A short time after the operation the poison
which had inoculated DIR. Sanford's blood be-
gan to do it's work. As soon as it was known
that he was suffering from diphtheria all the
allopathic doctors in Greenpoint offered thei-
services. Two or three were with him con-
tinually. The patient had always been very
delicate, aud this was against him. If, by
strong nourishment, he could be kept alive for
q certain number of days, it was known that
the crisis would be passed and he would re-
cover. Frozen beef blood was introduced into
his stomach, and brandy was injected under
the skin. When the patient was able TO swal-
low anything at all he was given ice-cold
champagne. Food In the most condensed
form was introduced by every possible means.
But nothing could save him, and he finally
said in a whisper, "It's no use, gentlemen;
I've got to CO." He died of asthenia, or gen.
eral weakness, and did not live long enough
to reach that stage of the disease in which
surgical operation becomes necessary.
DR.. Van Giesen, speaking of the case of DR..
Sanford yesterday, said: IF he had been a
strong man have no doubt that we would
have pulled him through. Years ago strong
ly advised him, as good many other friends
did also, to give up the practice of medicine,
as 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 all of his old practice
Speaking of diphtheria, DR.. Van Giesen
said: Ihave studied this disease for more
than thirty years. L have read many vol
umes devoted to it, and 1 have had a great
many cases of diphtheria in my prac-
tice. Sometimes L have said to myself,
Well, at last l know what diphtheria is
But if you were to ask me now to de-
scribe the etiology of this disease, should
answer, Il give it up. Fortunately, however,
we are able to treat it successfully in a great
many cases. My method of treatment is told
in just one word-stistain. There are ply
sicians who assert that they have never lost q
case of diphtheria. Those physicians are eth
er humbugs else they have never had many
cases of diphtheria. / have sometimes treated
as many as thirty cases successfully; and then
have lost half a dozen, one right after the
other. 1t is a disease that has different de-
grees of malignancy. One year its attacks
may be very mild, and at its next visit it may
kill almost every one who becomes infected
with it. AS for the present epidemic of diph-
iberia, L am afraid that we have only seen the
beginning of it. When see a, diphtheria
patient, l can generally make up my mind
whether he can be saved or not. But the
treatment Is the same for all-food and stimu.
lants."-N. Y. Sun.