Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-09-28
SUBORDINATE COMMANDERIEs
DRUGS THAT DEADEN PAIN.
Some Curious Freaks Of Laughing Gas
Medical Murder by Chloroform.

Some Curious Freaks Of Laughing Gas
Medical Murder by ChlOrOfOrm.
'No, madam" the dentist said, firmly. II
will not administer gas to the young lady unless
you are present at the time or some one else to
represent you"
'But tell you that we are going to New York
tomorrow afternoon" replied the mother. 81
cannot be here in the morning possibly my
self, and the maid is indispensable for the
packing. My husband has business matters to
attend to, and-and my daughter has really
got to have that painful tooth out before We
start or her enjoyment OF the trip will be
altogether spoiled. Now, doctor, surely you
will not refuse to pull it2"
Il am entirely willing to extract the tooth.
Mrs. B."
"A thousand thanks! knew you would not
have the heart to deny me-"
But, as said, must decline to administer
gas"
my dear sir, you know that for a creature
so delicate and nervously sensitive as my
daughter the pulling of tooth without laugh
ing gas is utterly out of the question"
Il am grieved. madam, that cannot oblige
you in this instance, unless you will consent to
be present in person or by proxy. To admin
lister nitrous-oxide under other conditions
would be against my invariable professional
rule"
But good heavens! doctor, what can be the
reason for such a regulation?"
Fear, madam"
"'Fearr And Of what, pray?"
"Of the penitentiary. Mrs. B. However,
you must positively not press me any further
upon the point. cannot accede"
What on earth you mean by such nonsense
can't imagine. doctor" said the lady. But
under the circumstances 1 suppose there is
m n n tn IN no.
dentist whom l haven't learned to trust like
yourself and have him pull the tooth l am
sorry that did not bring my daughter with
me this afternoon, but it is too late now. 1
trust your rival physician will perform, the task
without making any conditions"
ut will be his responsibility. madam"
responded the doctor politely, as he bowed the
lady out OF the Office.
A STAR reporter who was occupying
reclining chair with cuspidor annex behind
big screen, In the attitude of having an inter-
esting cavity" operated upon. could not have
helped overhearing the above-quoted colloauy
II he had tried. 1t excited his professional
curiosity, and when the dentist came back to
his work, instrument in hand, the patient
ventured to ask why he had refused to give the
young lady laughing gas unless a chaperon was
present.
The dental expert smiled grimly and replied:
WHY HE REFUSED.
"Any physician will tell you that nitrous
oxide gas is apt to produce specific effect of a
very peculiar nature upon the nervous system
Of the fem ale. Some years ago number of
dental surgeons in various parts of the United
States and in England-it was not long after
the discovery OF the uses of the gas as an
anRsthetic-were arrested and imprisoned on
the charge Of taking improper liberties with
young women patients while the latter were
, under the influence Of the fluid. There seemed
actually to be an epidemic of this species
n nri ms foot
deal Of alarm was stirred up on the subject, un-
til 1t was discovered that nervously organized
females, upon regaining consciousness after
having taken gas, were apt to entertain curious
illusions. For example, friend of my own,
fellow dentist, not long ago refused as YOU
heard me do today, to administer nitrous-oIide
to young woman who came alone. After con-
siderable protest she went home and got her
mother, who stood by while the gas was given
and the tooth extracted. Presently the girl
awoke to consciousness with a gasp and
scream, and straightway accused the
surgeon OF having taken an improper advantage
Of her while she had been helpless in the chair.
She was only pacifed at length by her mothers
indignant and eloquent denials; but had my
friend been less cautious, he would have stood
good chance Of being sent to Jail for a term
OF years. Such is the effect, now and then, of
nitrous-oxide gas upon the female. 1t is not
prudent thing, therefore, to monkey with un-
less a chaperon is by"
be careful. But, incidentally it has occurred
to me to remark that my own experience of
laughing gas, SO called, has been unpleasant
1t gave me horrible dreams, made me cry, and
felt all the pain besides. DeQuincey's favor
lite nightmare of being shut up for centuries
together in an Egyptian tomb in the embrace
OF ciammy crocodile was agreeable compared
with some visions had incidentally to the get
ting rid Of one grinder"
The dentist laughed.
DIFFERENT ANEsrHETIcs
"Nitrous-oxide," he explained, sis only a
partial anasthetic. 1t does not induce entire
inconsistencies, but usually renders the ex-
tremities Of the nerves, like those concealed in
the teeth, sufhciently insensible for the pur-
pose. cocaine. the local an@sthetic in
strong 40 per cent solution. is used good deal
nowadays for the same object or even a spray
OF ether, to freeze the gum. As for the laugh
Ing gas, 1t affects people in such various WAYS
1naI !. Is not to be relied upon, 80 far as a
single individual is concerned The best thug
to be said in its favor is that it has never killed
any one. My observation of it is, how
ever, that in most cases its effects are
painfui-more especially with nervous pa
heats. have seen persons while under its
ihnuence turn perfectly green and suffer, ap-
parently, the utmost tortures-writhe about In
the chair and scream in q most heartrendin9
manner. When they came to they would tell
OF horrible visions. The best all-around anas-
sAS"e Anow VI IL sulpnurlc ether. 1t Occa-
sions absolute insensibility to pain is perfectly
safe and its only drawback is the deathly feel
ing OF sickness that supervenes upon returning
10 consciousness. Chloric ether, or chloroform.
as 1t Is generally called is more easily admins
tered, q much less quantity being required to
accomplish the purpose, and for this reason is
sun employed by many frst-rate physicians
VINO are willing to take chances with their pa
uents lives. Chloroform, you see is always
dangerous in the most skilful hands.
II shall never forget beautiful, rosy little
boy who was laid upon a table at New York
hospital one afternoon many years ago. when
myself oficiated as q sort of deputy assistant
surgeon, 70 have some triding operation per-
formed. II was nothing much, but the operat-
ing surgeon thought 1t best to administer
ehloroform to keep him still Five minutes
| after the anesthetic had been given the pulse-
beats, carefully noted by watch, began TO
grow alarmingly fainter. and, despite ali the
resources for resuscitation known to medical
| science, the little life went slowly out before
our eyes, and within half an hour the chubby.
laughing child that had skipped into the oper.
ating room lay q corpse upou the table, with
big red frecracker still clasped tightly in his
small hst-a victim to medical careiessness. I
have always felt ~ II were partly responsible
for the death"
=, telegram from Stockbridge, Mass., states
| that John T. Nixon of the United States dis
trict court % very i'll ct that place, where he
was Obliged to stop while ON his way homs To
Trenton, N. j., from Bar Haxbor