Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-11-10

The Prick Of Electric Needle on n Mans
Heart Revived Him.


Heart Revived Him.
man whose appearance suggested that death
had seized him was in the hands Of physician
Of Providence, R. l., who believed that a chance
for life remained, and that if the action of the
heart could be quickened il might be possible
to save this patient. Yet every remedy known
to medical science had been applied and with
out success. The physician was sure that al
though not the slightest symptom of heart beat
could be detected and that organ seemed per-
fectly still yet life had not SO completely de-
parted as to make renewed action impossible.
The physician therefore decided TO attempt a
desperate remedy. He determined to pierce
the mans heart with u needle and then apply
an agent whose power is recognized by the
medical profession, but whose use is yet to be
we'll understood.
The surgeon. therefore, selecting a small
needle. not larger than hair, very sharp, at
tached 1t to a wire connecting with an electric
battery. With precision of hand the surgeon
thrust this needle into the patients breast,
pressing it until it punctured the heart. The
patient was unconscious; he felt no pain. AID if
be had been sensitive the pang would have been
no greater torture than the prick of needle
gives. The electric current was then applied.
the surgeon listening with intensest emotion,
for he had zeal for his patient and also the en-
III
seemed as though this remedy must fail but,
after little, the experienced ear of the sur
geon detected the faintest of pulsations. and as
the current of electricity continued its passage
through the heart, that organ, whose fibers were
but continuation of the electric needle. re-
spondet, began again to beat and send the
blood coursing through the veins, and after a
little the patient opened his eyes and was alive
again. Never had science brought back one So
near death door as this man was, and the joy
OF the surgeon in saving his patients life was
almost equaled by that delight which the true
scientist experiences when he has made dis
covery Of material value
This is regarded as perhaps the most import
ant, as 1t is the most sensational. of all the
cases reported to that infant association which
Is called the Eiectro-Therapeutica Society an
association which some of the ablest electrical
experts, as well some Of the most brilliant
men in the medical profession, believe will in
the course of few years develop the use OF
electricity as a medical agent with the accuracy
and scientific precision which the use of drugs
entails.
This society has just had its second annual
meeting; 100 men, coming from all parts OF the
United States, were present. Some of them
are medical men of scientific knowledse. who
have experimental with electricity with as-
founding results and have reduced expert
ments to something like scientific formula.
Others are medical practitioners who do no.
ioSHtss AZ eAperl hnOWitOSe OF eiectfcitS. Dht
WHO have strong faith in its use a medical
agent. Among the ablest OF the men present
were DR.. W. ]. Morton of New York, son of the
discoverer of anesthesia: DR.. Kellogg OF Battle
Creek, Mich, who has made some amazing dis
coyeries; DR.. Hutchinson of Providence, who
has III the past year demonstrated the use OF
electricity a local anasthetic in a manner
which will probably give him iame DR.. Herndon
OF Chicago and others who are pursuing this
study with the intensest enthusiasm.