New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-03-27
THE DOCTORS STATEMENT.
EVERYTHING DONE FOR COL. SHEPARD.

HIS PHYSICIANS SAY HE DIED FROM SUDDEN
oEDEMA AND CONGESTION OF THE LUNGS.
The report that Colonel Elliott T. Shepard 3
death was due to criminal negligence has caused
much comment. He who is thought TO have male
the criticism of the operation had little to say yes
tcrday. Either the gentleman who was as c"'e
TO Colonel Shepard as any living person not d
member of his immediate family spoke OF what
he did not know else the inquest, which can
not well be legally avoided, will cast reflections
on Drs Charles McBurncy and j. w. McLane
who performed the operation. The man who
criticised the work of the physicians is reported
10 have said that Colonel Shepard had two full
meals on the day of the operation, which he de-
ckired is contrary to custom in such cases
The patient might have clokcd from the vomit-
ing which would follow if the stomach was filled
Anacsthctics frequently produced nausea, and
Colonel Shepard had been affected by the ether
used He further added. the report goes, that
about one death in 10000 occurred under the adj
mnstration of ether. This made the danger so
remote that physicians and surgeons were apt to
grow careless.
DIR. Charles McBurney said yesterday that In
view Of the criticism and other questions which
had been raised regarding the operation, he would
gladly have an investigation of the facts OF the
case. An autopsy will not be made, bnt an in
quest must, according TO the law, be held by the
coroner. DIR. J. W. McLane is the family ply
stefan, and he had examined the patients vital
organs several times. lie has said that Colonel
Shepard had no organic disorder which, in the
doctors opinion, would be seriously affected by
ether.
The discussion which has followed the sudden
death of Colonel Shepard and the criticism of the
operation have moved Drs. McLanc and McBurney
to defend themselves and TO publish definite in
formation regarding the operation. They made
the following explanation late last night:
In consequence OF the many msstatements that
have been made In the public press In regard TO the
OF the late Elliott r. shepard. the undersigned,
at the request Of his family and many friends have
consented to make the following statement On Friday
afternoon, March -. M. at Colonel ,hepard's
house the purpose Of making thorough cxpo alton
under ether. OF his bladder. and proposed. II
practicable 10 remove the stone which IL contained.
The presence OF the stone had been determined at
two careful examinations, made on February "A and
March o.
These conducted without anaes.lctic and
gave the patient some pain. Between February "a
and March - several examinations of the urine were
made. but no evidence Of any organic disease of
the kidney was found. His heart and lung, proved
TO lie healthy, and after careful examination the
existence OF any disease was excluded, such as
might interfere with the proper performance Of
the proposed operation. which was postponed at
Colonel shcpari's own request until March "a
We especially Instructed him 10 eat very lightly
AT an carly hor On e day Of the proposed operation,
and 10 take NJ food affcrward At !: 80 o'clock.
when found him In hi, study he was apparently
in coed spirits but remarked that he felt little
nervous about the operation.
lie went up nj once to his bedroom. removed his
cicrhcs. wrapped himself In hls dressing gown looked
abou, the room at me seemingly elaborate prrmra-
lions which had been made for the operation, and
expressed surprise their detail. lie was told that
they claed chiefly to surgical cleanliness and were
no greater than nc would find In good hospital. ana
that Thought he desired nj least a. careful Treat
mcnt a. hospital patient. lie preferred TO take
the ether the operating table rather than on he
bed. At about IL 10 the administration of the ether
begun.
II was cxIlained to him that 10y taking full IN
,pfniions and not offering any resistance he wouli
come moro rapidly under III" influence oi inc
ana,Sihetc. AM for n few minutes Il" inh"i'u '"c
ether uncom monty well. his breath being full ana r'e'
| His color now changed some what ana IL WIS "P
parent that he mnuscacd. In another moment
he vomltcd. After this his color vas better bn' hs
his rcspraons were not satisfactory. nor his pulse.
tho further administration OF the anneshciic was ais
confined 4. yet not enough ether had been gwen 10
admit of proceeding With the proIoS"d "P''"''
All our efforts we're n0w directed 10 securing proper
| respiratory action. \, Is usual In al cases "h"rc
respiration +, not perfectly satisfactory, the br'H'h
Ing continuing very ilhGfcd. an examination waS
mad. of the larynN to discern whether possibly sos
rarilclr oi food had lodged In II, 'u ''fh proNcu
moi f., h, ia" case. The PATIENTS c0ndhion WIS now
"a nnrnins ~ call for eNt' me measures ana III
The hon, mat the symptoms might be- due 10 'i'
,fc.cic, IN the wndppc Of voniicd material hc'i.
dcnialv ilhalcd. the operation OF ra'hro'"mN "r
oIrring of the wlndpPc was performed. 10 lpt',Hn
material wa, fonnd. We even passed rubber
I'M @ down the wlndplpe Hnd into the bronchial b''
MAKING u,c Of - powerful aspra,ing syringe without
! discovering the presence ol anything bnt bi'"uy
| n,ucn. in The meantime several careful eNihhh-
,Ious were, made of the lungs and th" sounds w'r"
l., ,nri s. q ind mt d mi o. IN - org l> 1yBcl
had L.mu nrcyionsy sent inr. and Under iis influence
the uaiirnt slightly ievIved. Artificial respiration
| and every other means which might posNiblt gy'
relief wa~ rsOrtcd TO. From th' inc on i nr''i
~, I..cnu. even mOic embarrassed. but stu hrtlnclal
rr- -u,,ntlou ynS continuously kept up although ms
mil, became steadily M I" feeble
r., .auk Iapldy into uncOHN,ioi 'n'Ss. Hn III Spu
Of all Its died NJ ten minutes past ! o'clock. III
our opinion Colonel shcpad died oi sudden ,i 4,u"n'
and ,nq, sion of the lung. following the ndninis'
ilniion of ether. but primarily dn" 10 some 'nhse
"''"''"" ~ CIIAftI f., AIBuRNEl, NJ. d