The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1889-01-05
eTHER'S INFLUENCE.
An Old Soldiers Thrilling Experience I'm.
der the Surgeons Knife.

der the Surgeons Knife.
A gentleman recently operated on at a
nriyate hospital for the removal of Inc lett
eve the socket and membrane OF which haQ
bacome the seat Of a cancer, tells the fol.
lowing interesting story of his experience
under the knife to New York correspond
ent:
"The doctors agreed that | had cancer
and nothing but an extensive surgical open
alton could save my life. felt, ON hearinn
their decision, like condemned murderer
as though at certain day and hour should
the terrible
''But it will not be painful, said the sur
geon, with pleasant smile. You will be
under ether, you know
sThe operation was to be done three days
after the consultation that scaled my fate.
How lived through those three days can
not tell. / wondered if would have the
,ourage to face the ordeal coolly. | had
never before thought myself a coward.
passed through twelve battles during thd
late war and never shrank from danger.
But oh surgical operation, with ali its
alm and detailed preparation-all its awful
,hances-is quite another thing. 10 get on
liable, lie down and take ether, with the
MoWledge that you are about to have the
most delicate organ of your body carved out
hat indeed, calls for courage. Like the
man about to be hanged, felt anxious to
have it over - and was greatly afraid /
should lose all my grit at the last moment
and make a show of myself. SIN, 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
fifty years ago, when it would have taken
six strong men to hold me while my eye
was being literally, gouged out and / was
writhihg in agony, conscious Of it all.
"At last the day OF the operation arrived
lay down on the operating table, and thu
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 Z
lew more breaths began to feel in a hakl
visionary state. thought was in ball
room filed with the gayest company apC
was tripping the fantastic to some dreams
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. r
doctor said, this is delightful =
splendd' just then something seemed Il
crack inside my head. could see spark
ahre flying all about me. Every object ii
Meroom was in a whirl. The doctor an
Matendants seemed to be engaged il,
Aaa dance around me, such as the cann
pasNdnlge in around their roasting init
sionary, Then had most horrible dreams
iancedthat the doctor was amurderer,an
'ua' no hd made his way into my room /
lue night BY means of an open window.
saw lle awful knife gleam in his hands an
voula ieel i,he cold blade as it descende
'n!o my stomach. Then thought | wa
.aAea 70 dissecting room and there carve
W The interest OF science. Finally
awoke, and the surgeon, bending over mi
.auuoned me to remain motionless, and .
ue same time assured me that the operatio
naQ peen successful"
Ane surgeon said: "The operation WI
w cancer OF the eye-ball and socket, an
M mrSeeSsarly very delicate undertaking
a.. Ae pauent took ether remarkably we
40 soon as he was unconscious the orb
mas removed. The diseased plates OF boz
"ete tnen carefully sawed away and Il
~. tpetsuon completed. 1t does not seem
SUNG OF 1t how tedious it was For thr,
,uurs we worked constantly on the patieu
aucn bleeding took place, and the work W;
several times retarded by the need of gi
Jug more ether, as tie. patient evidently ff
pam occasionally. AS to the dreams whit
on!oyed while under ether, they are n
saa, usuas. It's remarkable fact that ph
se ai memory continues while the bra
sss s~.ps or Is under an anHsthetic. The {
tuon ts. was unattended with a single u
o., ,,orape result, and the patient AVA
ta.s say me time when the wounds shall be ps
Stssuy nealed to have glass eye put in
aesocket"
yufn nfxyv and A rtllIary