The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-03-27
STATEMENT OF THE DOCTORS.

Colonel Shepsrds Taking OFF the Result of
UniooEed-For Gdems.
NEW YORK, March 26.-At the special re-
quest of Chauncey NJ. Depew and the men,
bers of the family of the late Elliott +.
Shepard. Drs. McBurney and McLane to-
night gave out the following statement
for publications:
"In consequence of many misstatements
that have been made in the public press in
regard to the case of the late Elliott f.
Shepard, the undersigned, at the request
of his family and many friends, have con-
sented to make the following statement:
On FRIDAY afternoon. March a. we met at
Colonel Shepard's house for the purpose of
making q thorough exploration, under
ether. of his bladder. and we proposed. if
practicable, to remove the stone
which it contained. The presence
of the stone had been deter
mined at two careful examinations
made on Feb. "a and on March 9. These
were conducted without an anRsthetlc
and gave the patient some pain. Between
Eco. "a and March 81 several examinations
of tho urine were made. but no evi-
dence of any organic disease of the kidneys
was found. His heart and lungs proved to
be healthy. and after careful examination
the existence of any disease was excluded.
such as might interfere with the proper
per torrance of the proposed operation.
which was postponed. at Colonel Shepard's
request until March "a. We especially in
structed him to eat very lightly st an
early hour on the day of the proposed
operation. At 1880 O'Clock, when we found
him In his study he was apparently in good
spirits, but remarked that he felt
little nervous about the operation.
He went up at once 10 his bed
room, removed his clothes. wrapped
himself in his dressing-gown, looked
about the room at the seemingly elaborate
preparations which had been made for the
operation. and expressed surprise at their
detail. He was told that they re-
lated chiefly TO surgical cieaniinosste And
that no greater in the world were TO be found
In good hospital and that we thought he
deserved at least as careful treatment as o
hospital patient. He preferred to take the
ether on the operating table rather than
on the bed. At about 1925 O'Clock the ad-
ministration of the ether was commenced.
1t " as explained to him that by taking full
inspirations aud not Offering any resist
snce he would come more rapidly under
the influence and for q few minutes he in
hailed the ether uncOmmonly well.
his breathing being full and free.
His color then changed somewhat.
and IL was apparent that he was nau-
seated. In another moment he vomited.
After this his color was better, but as his
respirations were not satisfactory, nor his
pulse. the further administration of the
anpsthetio was discontinued. AS yet not
enough ether had been given to admit OF
proceeding with the proposed operation.
"All our efforts were now directed to
| securing proper respiratory action. as il
usual In all cases where respiration is not
| perfectly satisfactory. The breathing con-
tInuing very labored. an examination was
made of the larnyx to discover whether
| possibly some particle of food had lodged
| in It, but such proved not to be the case.
The patients condition was now so alarm.
| ing as to call for extreme measures and.
| be due to the presence in the wind
pipe of vomited material, acci-
den tally inhaled. the operation of trachae-
| otomy. or opening OF the windpipe. was
performed. No foreign material of any
| kind was found. We even passed O
rubber tube down the windplpe and
into the bronchial tubes. making use
of powerful aspirating syringe
without discovering the presence of any
thing. but bloody mucus. In the meantime
several careful examinations were
made of the lInss ; and the sounds
OF these organs. Oxygen had been pre-
viously sent for and under its
influence the patient slightly revived.
Artificial respiration and every other
means which might possibly give relief
was resorted to. From this time on his
breathing became even more embar-
rassed. but still artificial respiration
was continuously kept mp. although
bis pulse became steadily more feeble. He
sank rapidly into Inconsistencies. and in
| spite of ali efforts died at ten minutes past
o'clock. In our opinion Colonel Shepard
died of Pdema and con gestiOn of the lungs.
following the administration of ether but
primarily due TO some cause unknown TO us.
In Memory of shepard.
CHICAGO. March 26-Members of the
CHICAGO Typographical Union met this
afternoon to pass resolutions on the death
of the late Elliott +. Shepard, of New York.
| The meeting was largely attended and sew
| eral speeches were made extolling the de-
| ceased editor for the friendly attitude he
| had always assumed toward the printers.
| The resolutions are as follows:
Whereas. The Ruier OF the Universe in His
| divine wisdom, has removed from our midst Col.
Elliott shepard. whose Sudden death comes a. q
great shock to the members OF the Chicago Typo
| graphical Union. filling as he did such broad
and useful field of public duty. and.
Whereas, Colonel Shepard. since enbarking in
the journalistic profession, was always con-
| sistent friend OF union printers. and kind and
considerable friend: therefore, be il
| Resolved, That in the death OF Col Elliott +.
! Shepard the Nation has lost patriotic and
worthy citizen. this chapel courteous friend,
| the profession a worthy exemplar, aud the cause
| OF Christianity a jealous devotee.
| Mike Kelly Numerically Guyed.