Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1892-06-02
EARLY ANHsrHEsIA.
First Use of Ether in Performing sursi-

\
| cal Operations.
| Tho news Of Liston's trial of anns-
thesia by the inhalation OF ether was
brought as soon rs possible to Glas-
gov, and was conveyed at once to the
different learned professors of medi-
cine in that city. was at tho time
one of the students in the anatomical
class in Anderson's University says
writer in Longman's Magazine, and
according to custom the large class
was seated in the lecture thcntcr wait
ing for the middle-day lecture. The
professor we were under was DR.. Moses
Buchanan. a most Jealous. able and
enthusiastic teacher. The professor
was one OF the most punctual men in
the world in rcspect'to lecture time,
aud after we students had sat for five
minutes at least with no professor in
view, we began to get q little bit rest
less aud noisy. wondering what had
happened. At last the janitor John
MacDougal. opened the door ut the
back OF the lecture table and the miss.
ing professor appeared. To our as
constituent he told US that there would
be no lecture that day; and then. for
he was as good surgeon as he was
an anatomist he informed Us that he
had to communicate a piece OF news
| which marked new era in medical
science. nothing less than the discov-
cry OF a method by which the most
important operations could be per.
formed while the patient undergoing
the operation was asleep. II am"
he added. ION my way to the Royal
lnfrmary to take part in the first trial
of the new system there, and by the
by we shall all meet to learn if the
news that has reached US, and that
seems to be satisfactorily. is really
true. II it be. this day is red-let.
ter day in all our lives.
AS matter OF course. this news
created the utmost excitement We
trooped off to the Royal intirmary as
fast rs our legs would carry US and
in due time were crowding into the
operating theater. The operating
theatcr was then under the fine dome
which still crowns the Royal inGrmary.
The room formed chapel on Sunday,
and in the rush for seats the best
places were speedily secured. l and
one or two other students got into the
pulpit which formed an excellent
place for observation; others seized
the precentor's pew-I Think was so
called-both forbidden places except
on such memorable day. The late
rofessors-Lawrie, Andrew Buchan-
an, Moses Buchanan with DR.. Flem-
| ing. Mr.. Anderson, and the house sur
geons and the dressers in their blue
striped gowns. were in the arena and
on tip-toe Of expectation. The task
of operating belonged to Prof. Andrew
buchanan. who, before tho arrival OF
the patient stepped forward and in
gentle and nervous manner natural
to him, described the news that had
come from the Massachusetts hos
pital explaining that the process con-
sisted in laying the patient in deep
sleep by the inhalation OF the vapor
Of ether; that it had been carried out
in America and in London; that it was
called anasthcsia-a word derived
from theGreek, signifying not to feel;'
and that he and his colleagues, after
due consultation. had determined
to put the new method to tie
test with as much care and precision
as they could command in the first at
tempt The patient was then sent
for. and came in with quite a smiling
face. delighted with the idea of being
cut without pain. and rather proud.
fancy, at being the first man in Scot
land selected to enjoy the honor as
well as the pleasure. At all events.
he agreed with the utmost readiness
to the proposal OF the professor that
he should be put to sleep. and DR..
Fleming, with the house surgeon Of
the day for Buchanan's ward. COM
menced to administer the ether vapor
from sponge surrounded by towel
In short time the patient-whose
name, think was Macleod-began to
talk and sing in low voice in the
style not uncommon to the second
stage Gas we afterwards designated it)
OF the ether narcotism. giving US q
line or two at least from Bobby"
and communicating one or two se-
crets which he might just as we'll kept
to himself He then lapsed into per.
feet quietude and soon atterward was
allowed to wake up with the opera
ton completed. without knowing that
he had passed through anything more
than curious dream. feeling as he
affirmed. with broad grin. just q
wee bit fou." and in no degree
ashamed of his acquaintanceship with
that condition.
The Blunderins Printer. "
Even Mr.. Aldrich, with all his