The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-06-06
THE DEAD ALIVE.
A Wonderful Surgical Case viz.
idly Described.

Isaac Romano, the New York tea broker,
lost two lovely children, who succumbed to
the horrors of hydTophobia. Mr.. Romano
grief was in his heart. 1t did not show on
the outside, but it kept gnawing its way
into his very soul. He tried drugs and slim
ulants and moved away from the house
where his children used to play, but he
could not get rid of the childish voices ring
ing in his ears. He became reticent and
moody, and after time had the most vio-
lent outbreaks of temper.
Dr. Hasbrouck was called to attend him
and diagnosed the case as incpient insanity.
For the sake of safety Il professional nurse
was kept near Mr.. Romano all the time
During the night, while the nurse slept, Mr..
Romaine got up from his bed, tied piece of
rope to the knob of door, threw the other
end over the door. put his neck in moose
and hung himself with his feet resting on
the floor. The nurse missed Mr.. Romano
and found him lifeless. The body was
warm, but the heart had stopped. After
cutting away the rope the nurse ran for
DR.. Hasbrouck, who lived near by, and the
doctor came with lot OF instruments and
powerful galvanic battery.
He began working upon the body at once,
had been sent for arrived.
The body was placed in very warm water
and kept there for twenty minutes. 1t was
perfectly white when taken out, which
showed that there was no life in it. Elec-
trOdes were applied to the hands and feet
and powerful current of electricity was
sent through the body. The muscles jerked,
twisted and contracted violently, and the
ewes opened under the influence of the cleo
hut q G
the body was only piece of beautiful clay
in the hands of death An instrument with
several hundred needles was forced over the
abdomen into tlH diaphragm and the cleo
tricty was poured int the tough muscle 10
the hope that il would be started in motion
and start the respiratory apparatus, 1t was
useless. While this was being done an arti-
fetal breathing machine was put on the
body. 1t consisted of elastic straps, bands
springs and levers, which were placed upon
certain muscles which control the reSpir-
atOrY acts. In combination with this was
mouthpiece which fitted tightly over the
lips. This was attached to a blower which
alternately forced in and withdrew the air
from the lungs. The machine was worked
steadily for three hours. II was perfect
Imitation Of breathing. The air went into
the lungs at regular intervals and every
muscle, by the touch of some band or spring.
was made to perform the exact work done
in natural breathing. AS an assistant go.
tired another took his place, and there was
no interruption in the movements of the
machinery. The electric appliance was used
on the diaphragm at short intervals. The
impulse given to the lungs was so strong
that they worked for five minutes after the
machinery stopped, but the heart was as
immoya6e as a stone. The surgeons felt
that it was useless 10 continue the labor
any longer, but Dr. HasbrOuck would not
give up.
He decided to try something entirely new
in the line Of reviying life An inciSiOn was
made in each arm of the patient and an
artery was opened in the right arm and a
vein in the left. Simil ar incislOnS were made
in the arms Of DR.. Wilson, a strong and
hearty assistant. A connection was made
between the arms Of the living and the dead
by fine ivory tubes running from the arte-
ries and veins. The theory that the operation
was intended to test was that the heart Of
the dead man would feel the impulse of the
heartbeat in the living and be started in
motion, upon the principle Of putting water
into pump to start it. 1t was certainly
novel test. After twenty minutes there was
a furry in the dead heart, and the artificial
respiration was carried on with great vlgOr
After tile flutter there came a strong beat
and the heart kept on working after the
ivory tubes wers removed. In a half hour
the lungs worked of their own accord,
family, il is true, but regularly.
The heart was stimulated by injections of
whisky and ether. Life had been restored
TO the patient without doubt but the action
Of the organs was unsteady and indicated
that they might stop any moment. The
patient became little stronger from day to
day. and in just fourteen days consciousness
was restored. He is now cOnvalescent, al
though he is still kept in bed to await the
healing of the windppe, which was crushed
at the hanging.
The restoration of life Is certainly in the
line of miracles. He was certainly dead.
Materialists will find ground for the sup
port Of their arguments in this case, as Mr..
Romano says that he knew nothing from
the time that he hanged himself until he
aWOke IN bed. What becomes of the immOr-
tality of the soul ?-Cincunati ENQUIRER