Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1886-12-31
A PHYSICIANS STORY.
HIS EXPERIENCE WHILE UNDER THE
INFLUENCE OF ETHER.

In no way Connected with the Sub
ject's NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. and Waves.
That which could be remembered with
distinctness may DO said to have occurred
during three periods: (al OF entrance, (b) Of
Inconsistencies, and tcl OF recovery.
First-The period of entrance, which was
brief and without excitement, SIS was after
ward learned As the efforts 10 breathe
deeply were continued, the last sentence
which could be voluntarily uttered was
rational question in regard 10 sheet, which
an attendant was directed TO spread over
me. Then the spreading of the sheet, the
touch of tho napkin to the face, and the
GOODNESS Of the ether were distinctly felt,
but an effort made immediately to speak a
rational sentence failed from refusal of the
vocal organs to respond TO the idea. was
conscious that | failed from this cause.
What this idea was which could not be
spoken could not, unfortunately, be recalled
after recovery; though at the time when the
idea was formed there was distinct jugd
ment in favor of its nationality, end 4 re-
Fiction on the failure of the vocal nlechan-
ism
Swiftly running auras or waves seemed
to follow one another rapidly from within
outward over the limbs, and the Ego"
was gone.
Second-The period of unconcsiousness
or tho wave period. There was present
during this time, and only during this
time, the single impression of two endless
parallel lines in swift longitudinal motion,
each line being detected ct a certain point
to form a wave. There WIS q uniform misty
background, and only II short section Of
the lines appeared, their total length being
unsuggested. They seemed 10 be made up
Of points, closely t, so that their longitu
dinal movement vas apparent. The lower
line moved from LIT TO right, but the di
rection of movement OF the upper could not
be recalled.
The lower line was caught up to the level
of the upper so as to form a wave at
corresponding point descending wave was
formed on the upper line, SO that the two
lines irtersected. These waves maintained
their ono position, the idea Of motion being
conveyed by the points which made mp tho
lines, these seeming TO run over the elcya
tons at u hurried rate, but with perfect
regularity.
There was q constant sound or whirr,
not loud, but distinct, rs of small wheels
or q spindle revolving with great swiftness.
This sound like impression seemed 10 DO
connected with the running lines, and
ceased as they disappeared. 1T may be
remarked in passing that the only objective
constant sound il the room WIS made by an
argand gasburner The objective sound
did not resemble this, and, moreover, sud-
denly disappeared.l
These phenomena occupied the whole fold.
There were present 10 dreams or visions IN
any way connected with human affairs, 10
ideas or impressions akin TO anything il
past experience. 10 emotions, Of course. TO
idea Of personality. There YVES 10 c0nccp-
ton as to what being il was tia. was re-
garding the two lines, or that there existed
any such thing as a being; the lines and
waves were all.
After an indefinite time, without varia-
ton Of the above phenomena, the lirc in tho
ascending part of tho lower waYc Grew tn
steady, secondary waves being moment
arily established on the main curve. Once
or twice the whole lower wave fell with sn
instantaneous motion, but it was at once re-
stored.
Third.-Periol OF recovery. Just at this
juncture / was conscious Of taking Z deep
inspiration, followed by respiratory pulse,
tho succeeding inspiration being accoL7-
panied By q slight sound produced b air
passing lax, soft palate when tba mouth .
open.
With this first conscious inspiration came
instantly tho first idea or thought e any
considerable scop2-namely, that rIch a
respiration during the ethcrization would
indicate deep narcosis. near death. There
was no fear OF death OF ether emotion,
rather feeling Of interest and curiosi5y a. 20
whether / had been near tho edge Of IfG
while more deeply under tho onasthcsir.
Tho waves were row lost, yery rapidly, lat
not quito a--ancousIY. IN spite If =
strong ard determined effort to rc.aia a
view Of them. sas still unable 10 spcak
or move.
Somewhere il Chs period, probably after
the long Inspiration, and certainly before
the waves disappeared and consciousness
fully returned, came ngabsr 81 curious
ideas and impression. many # which are
wholly beyond recall, even tho order q
those remembered being unknown except
as indicated above. III tGat can 10 hon
cstly done IS 20 mention them on after
another, with no attempt at seguences.
I was Inose profoundly inp1ezed that 1
had been given q glimpse at the fiIaplest
isteEcc. Il seemed perfectly clear that tkose
lines represented, or rather were nay exist
eEce Il. g, as spull, end that tho waves
were my human or animal life constituted a
temporary modification Of q primary con
dition. The waves were czceed5uEiy deli
cate, and the sIighteg. dLsturbisy forco could
apparently cause them 70 dissppezr and
leave only two lines fThis idea vas
strens.t tened b. the Pickering q The v~ays
above Eleaticted
Tie idea obteinei that there vas {. tossIly
new conception 70 TIC AID 70 mankind. aDd
TIN: ] must remember FL ti-lt occurred
and recount It GA completely returning 70
cozsciOlsllsSs There was tsctioelb,sdiy 4
definite o-yIer in which tbs various ph2sss If
consciousness returned. and detsrrained 20
grasp and remember ts1s rsevE iEITg-ess-o1s az
they came osse b. ollo before ne ~ first
there was - douht Tia; this cozld readily
lie dcrse. "a ssenaoi 50 clear: bit az I be-
carae rlore and more able 70 understand tho
Surroundings N the room ! was les ard
les abb 70 remember that which / 20
Etror-,y ~isseI and g=Eos-e 20 retain. Tisrs
was roTv = kaowiesige that there wa an In
f-sezcc Or pSsFeT. absoizte IA Authority,
fe1t bet not ssen, entirely iEnTereeE.2l, scra-
rate froI-l re ard from humanity. Thoss
sersuc1 - evident a. that tire as dos now
the czfsta-cz % Material ob sscts arczn1
TIE rzira E.lads I'd question q q TTizzA tic
ezTeCz Of the osker vas present. Ia the
izzusls % iris po~er fne=no-y sod ksipse=x,
ccl.:roils. by Is mighty inG1s2ce. FirEaly,
f.c-C-zh.y wa nv determination sEr1s