Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1889-03-27
ErAER,s INELuENoE.
An Old Soldiers Thrilling Experience Un-
der the Surgeons Knife.


der the Surgeons Knife.
A gentleman recently operated on at
private hospital for the removal OF the left
eye, the socket and membrane OF which had
become the seat of a cancer, tells the fol
lowing interesting story of his experience
hinder the knife to a New York correspond
ent:
1.-THE doctors agreed that 1 had cancer,
and nothing but an extensive surgical oper-
ation could save my life. l felt, on hearing
their decision, like condemned murderer
IS though at a certain day and hour l should
look for the last time on earth and encounter
ihe terrible
@ But it will not be painful said the sur
reon. with pleasant smile. you will be
nnder ether you know
"The operation was to be done three days
after the consultation that scaled my fate.
How / lived through those three days can
not tell 1 wondered if would have the
courage to face the ordeal coolly. l had
never before thought myself a coward. l
passed through twelve battles during the
late war and never shrank from danger.
But oh a surgical operation, with all its
calm and detailed preparation-all its awful
chances-is quite another thing To get on
table, lie down and take ether, with the
knowledge that you are about to have the
IQOSb ubuCdlC VI BtilA VI 1OlL bObJ NetA GU buI
that, indeed, calls for courage. Like the
man about to be hanged, felt anxious to
have it over - and was greatly afraid l
should lose all my grit at the last moment
and make a show of myself. Still, there
was one comfOrt-I should feel no pain
and my nerves felt much strengthened by
the reflection, when l compared the surgical
operation of the present day with that of
fifty years ago, when it would have taken
six strong men to hold me while my eye
was being literally gouged out and l was
writhing in agony, conscious of it all.
"At last the day Of the operation arrived.
lay down on the operating table, and the
surgeon placed the ether cone over my
mouth and nostrils. took long, deep in
spiration of the ether. 1t was cold and
tasted good, tingling slightly as it entered
my lungs, and causing peculiarly delight
full thrill to pass over me. After taking a
few more breaths l began to feel in half
visionary state. thought l was in ball
room filed 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 gravely at me, came back at once
to the situation.
Doctor said, this is delightful -
splendidp Just then something seemed to
crack inside my head. L could see sparks
of fire flying all about me- Every object in
the room was in a whirL The doctor and
his attendants seemed to be engaged in
mad dance around me, such as the canni-
balls indulge in around their roasting mis-
sionary. Then / had most horrible dreams.
fancied that the doctor was murderer, and
that he 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 ithe cold blade as it descended
into my stomach. Then thought l was
taken to a dissecting room and there carved
up in the interest of science. Finally
awol1e, and the surgeon, bending over me,
cautioned me to remain motiOnless, and at
the same time assured me that the operation
had been successful
The surgeon said "Ths operation was
for cancer of the eye-ban and socket, and
necessarily a 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. 1t does not seem in
telling of it how tedious it was For three
hours we worked constantly on the patient.
Much bleeding took place, and the 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
sical memory continues while the brain
sleeps or is under an an9sthetic. The OPP
GRAFTON was unattended with a single un-
favorable result, and the patient awaits
only the time when the wounds shan be per-
fectly healed to have glass eye put into
the socket"