Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1889-06-25
RESCUED FROM DEATH.
Resuscitation After Apparent SUSPENSION
of All Animal Func ions

of All Animal Func ions.
Probably one of the most remarkable of
this class of cases is one which occurred in
the practice of the late erudite and pbilo-
sophie dean of the Long Island College Hos
pital, Prof. Samuel g. Armor. I record Il.
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
uain-relieving remedy of travelling quack.
Its basis was canabis Indica, or Indian
hemp. He swallowed an overdose, taking
it in drachms instead of drops. In time he
developed all the symptoms of narcotic
poisoning. In spite of 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. y At last
all left the death-chamber except Dr. Ar
NOR and negro attendant. Looking out of
window the doctor mused for some time
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
emnly swear that the shortest possible time
that could have elapsed from the time death
was declared until he concluded to make eff
forts at resuscitation ''was 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
it 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 a possible heart-futter. All was
of no avail. After two hours effort the
body con ntinued lifeless; hope had fed The
negro continued, however, while the doctor
rested. The desire to save his friend, il
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
Mere than three hours had elapsed and
again was the attempt abandoned anG once
more vigorously made. After nearly four
hours of hard work. and when about to de-
sist for the third time, DR.. Armor thought
he detected slight movement OF the lips.
Soon again he was positive he saw 1t. Again
he noticed it after long interval, and was
certain of returning life. The stethoscope
discovered an occasional light, muf1led
sound over the heart. More injections were
gwen and efforts at artificial respiration
were redoubled. AT last the gasp became
pronounced tue heart beats more frequent
the respiration deeper and more regular,
until eventually respiration and circulation
were established, but at a slow rate. Con-
sciousness was not regained Tor hours, but
eventually returned.
DR.. Armor's description Of his own feel
,ngs and those of the family and the negro
at the time may be better imagined than
described. The patient was alive and well
over score of years afterward in fact he
was alive and well but few years ago, and
known and interested in New
England banking and financial circles.