Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-10-28
NITRO-GLYCERINE.
New York Doctors Who Put Little Faith in a
Chicago Story.
New York Tribune.


dispatch from Chicago was published
few day ago describing the resuscita-
ton of a woman supposed to be dead by
the hypodernic injection of a solution of
nitro-glycerine in alcohol. The woman
was Mrs. Fl. M. Fraser, of Thirty ninth
street and Forest avenue, and her remark
able release from death was said TO have
been brought about by DR.. Lockerstcen
on the night of Aug. 80. On that night
Mrs. Fraser, who a month before had
given birth to a child, is said by DR.. Lock
ersteen to have fallen into state ST col
lapse. Her pulse became imperceptible,
her heart ceased to beat and she ceased
to breathe. II took up ten drops of the
solution of nitro-glycerine," the doctor is
credited with saying, ard injected it in
to the body. The first minute there was
not pulsation; there were four gasps
distributed over the first sixty seconds,
but that is not life. In the second min
ute there were six respirations and faint
beating of the heart could be heard. In
the third minute there were eighteen
respirations and the pulse became dis
tinctly perceptible at the wrist. In the
fourth minute the pulse was $50 or more.
A minute later all the muscles relaxed
L
constituent of all of US, Mrs. Fraser be-
came conscious and uttered few words.
d.. LOckersteen is further quoted as
saying that the injection promoted action
on the arterial tension and by causing the
vessels to dilate enabled the blood to flow
and thus set the machinery going again.
He is said to hold the opinion that there
is no reason why any one should from an
! OF oh l.
while undergoing surgical operations
since nitro-glycerine can be administered
and animation restored. Mrs. Fraser is
said to have been out riding on the day
that the dispatch was sent, but whether in
hearse or not is not stated.
81 don't believe it is possible" said
DR.. Alfred l.. LOOMS when he had read
the story. "Nitrog lycerine in solution
has been in use for the last seven or eight
years. I have used it frequently in the
last six years in cases of Bright's disease
and kidney affection with considerable
success. So far as using it for reviving
persons who are dead-that is preposter-
Gus. If there is any truth whatever in this
Chicago case it is probable that the wom-
an was in cOmatose condition and that
she would have recovered without the in
lection"
DR.. William T. Bull thought the story
amusing to say the least. 'It shows a
well developed Imagination on the part
of somebody" he said. EITHER DR.. Lock
erstein,-whoever he may be-has deceiv-
ed the correspondent or the correspond
ent has been trying his hand at fiction.
The effect of nitro-glycerine is altogether
different from that described in this case.
In the practice of surgery it is seldom if
ever used. Of what avail it could be in
the case of persons who have been over
dosed with chloroform or ether I don't
see. Paralysis of the heart is the direct
cause of death where too much chloroform
is administered, and those who die while
under the influence of ether are usually
strangled without carelessness.
Another wen-known physician eharac-
terized the story as absurd.