Wichita eagle., 1889-02-27
RESCUED FROM DEATH.
h'osuscitatfon After Apparent Suspension
ofA

| f'osuscitatfon After Apparent Suspension
Of All Animal Func ions.
Probably one Of the most remarkable of
inns class OF cases is one which occurred in
The practice Of the late erudite and philo-
sophie dean of the Long Island College Hos
pItal, Prof. Samuel G. Armor. / record it,
as had it more than once from his own lips,
says writer in the Medical News:
! The patient was well-to-do man, with
wife and children. He had purchased a
paln-releving remedy of travelling quack.
It's basis was canabis Indica, or Indian
hemp. He swallowed an overdose, taking
1t IN drachms instead of drops. In time he
developed ali the symptoms of narcotic
poisoning. In spteof all efforts on the part
OF the attending physician he died. The
grief-stricken wife and children wept at the
bedside Of the dead man. At last
al left the death-chamber except DR.. Ar
NOR and negro attendant. Looking out OF
window the doctor unused for some tune
over the sad fate of his friend and bene-
factor, for such he had been, and came to
the philosophical and scientific conclusion
that his friend was somatically Function
ally) dead, to be sure, but that cellular life
was still active, for the room was warm He
thought that if the respiratory and circu-
latory functions could be maintained by ex-
ternal influences until enough of the poison
had been eliminated by the cellular activity
the patient might still survive DR. Armor
stated to me that if required he would SOL
emmy swear that the shortest possible time
that could have elapsed from the time death
was declared until he concluded to make eff
forts at resuscitatiou twas at least one
hour" In this estimate he allowed for all
the circumstances that might cause time to
beoverestimated, and felt certain IN his own
mind that he had fixed the time at less than
1t had actually been
Bottles of hot water were applied to the
limbs: hot water. pepper and whisky were
injected into the bowels and the same poured
into the stomach. Artificial respiration
was begun. When the doctor tired the
negro relieved him, and so they alternated.
Occasionally the stethoscope was employed
TO detect possible heart-flutter All was
Of no avail After two hours effort the
body continued lifeless; hope had fed The
negro continued. however, while the doctor
rested. The desire 10 save his friend. #
possible, and the scientific aspect of the
question that had been raised caused re.
newed attempt: more injections were given
and more hot bottles were applied
More than three hours had elapsed and
again was the attempt abandoned, and once
more vigorously made. After nearly four
hours OF hard work, and when about to de-
SYST for the third time, DR.. Armor thought
he detected a slight movement Of the lips.
Soon again be was positive he saw it. Again
he noticed ii after long interval and was
certain of returning life. The stethoscope
discovered an occasional light, muffied
sound over the heart. More injections were
given and'efforts at artificial respiration
were redoubled. At last the gasp became
pronounced the heart-beats more frequent,
the respiration deeper and more regular,
until eventually respiration and circulation
were established, bat at slow rate Con-
sclousness was not regained for hours, but
eventually returned
DIR. Armor's description Of his own feel |
lngs and those of the family and the negro |
al TIE time may be better imagined than |
described The patient was alive and well |
over score OF years af.erward: in fac. ne |.
was ahve and well but 8 few years ago. and |
prominently known and interested in New /
England banking and financial circles