Wichita eagle., 1888-08-26
EThER'S INFLUENCE.
An Old Soldiers Thrilling Experience
der the Surgeons knife.

/ An Old Soldiers Thrilling Experiences o.
der the Surgeons Knife.
A gentleman recently operated on at
1 private hospital for the removal OF the len
eye, the socket and membrane of which bad
become the seat of cancer, tells the fol-
lowing interesting story OF his experience
I under the knife 70 New York correspond
ent:
The doctors agreed that / had cancer,
and nothing but an extensive surgical oper-
alton could save my hfe. / felt. on hearing
their decislcu, like a condemned murderer
as though at . certain day and hour should
+ look for tho last time on earth and encounter
+ the terrible
But twill not be painful said the sur
{ geon, with u pleasant srrile. You VIII be
under ether, you know
The operation was 70 be done three DAYS
after the consultation that sealed nv fate.
How lived th-cagsthose three DAYS can
not tell | wondered il would have the
courage to face tho ordeal coolly. had
never before thought myself coward. /
passed through twelve battles during the
late war and never shrank from danger.
but On! surgical operation, with Ill its
calm and detailed prepara;ien-all its awful
chances-is quite another thing. To get on
knowledge that you are about 10 have the
most delicate organ Of your body carved out
that, indeed, calls for courage. Like the
man about to be hanged. felt anxious To
have it over "a and was greatly afraid I
should lose ell my grit a. the last moment
and make q show of myself Still, there
was one comfort-I should feel no PAIN;
and my nerves felt much strengthened BY
the reflection, when | compared the surgical
operation OF the present day with that Of
NIFTY years ago, when IL would have taken
SIX strong men To hold Inc while my eye
was being literally gougcd cut and was
writing ii GSoay, conscious OF il all
AT last tho day Of the operation arrived.
lay down on the operating table, and the
surgeon placed the ether cone over nv
mouth and nostrils. l took long, deep in
spiration Of tho ether. 1t was cold and
tasted good, tingiing slightly as il entered
my lungs. and causing "a peculiarly delight
ful thrill 10 pass over me. After taking q
few more brcaths began to feel in half
visionary state. | thought was in a ball
room filled with the gayest company and
was tripping the fantastic TO some dreamy
waltz with the fairest OF the fair Then /
could not resist singing. Noticing the doc
tor look sravely at ne, came back al once
TO the situation.
"'Doctor,' / said. this Is delightful -
splendid just then something seemed to
crack inside my head. could see sparks
of fire flying all about me. Every object in
the room was in whnl The doctor and
his attendants seemed 10 be engaged in
mad dance around me, such As the canni-
balls indulge in around their roasting mis-
slonary Then had most horrible dreams
L iancled that the doctor was amurdcrer, and
that be had made his way into my room in
the night by means Of an open window.
saw the awful knife CLEAN In his hands and
could feel tthe cold blade as il descended
into my stomach. Then thought | was
taken TO dissecting room and there carved
up in the interest of science. Finally
awoke, and the surgeon, bending over me,
cautioned me to remain motionless, and a,
the same time assured me that the operation
had been successful"
The surgeon said: THE operation was
for cancer Of tho eye-bar and socket, and
necessarily very delicate undertaking
The patient took ether remarkably well
AS soon as he was unconscious the orbit
was removed The diseased plates Of bone
were then carefully sawed away and the
operation completed. II does not seem in
telling Of il how tedious IL was For three
hours we worked constantly on the patient
Much bleeding took place, and tho work was
several times retarded by the need OF CIV
ing more ether, as the patient evidently felt
pain occasionally. AS TO the dreams which
he enjoyed while under ether, they are not
unusual 1t is a remarkable fact that ply
steal memory continues while the brain
sleeps or is under an auHsthetic. The op-
Grafton was unattended with single IN
favorable result, and the patient awaits
only the time when the wounds.sh be per
fectly healed 20 have glass eye put into
the socket"