Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-03-29

THE sudden death Of Col. ELLIOTT +.
SHEPARD. OF New York, from "inhala-
tion Of ether" continues to be an interest
ing tonic Of discussion among physicians,
surgeons. nurses and others. Ether is
more generously used probably than any
other anesthetic in surgical operations,
and a fatality resulting from its admins
tration to a patient by competent and
careful medical attendants naturally
causes widespread concern, and unless
properly explained may result in seri-
opslv interfering with successful probes
sional work. A general disturbance OF
confidence in its use among patients
WIN arc compelled TO undergo severe
surgical operations would be depIorable.
In AN interview in the New York Ad-
,,erfiser an eminent member Of the Fa-
entity Of Roosevelt Hospital, and q col
league Of DR.. MCBURNEY there, who did
not want to be quoted, yet who affirmed
that all surgeons would admit the
truthiulness Of his statements, said that
NJ all anesthetics ether was the least
dangerous. speaking in general
wav." he said, ''only about one patient
IN %. 600 dies under its influence, where
as one in every 10000 succumbs to
chloroform."
He said that hardly any two persons are
affected alike by ether. Some Will be made
fDsensible by a few OunceS.ot IL while on
others large volumes have no effect, except
TO make them wild and full OF tancies. In
some such cases IL is found necessary, IN or
der 20 bring the subjects TO unconscious
ness. to make them lnhale mixture OF
ether. chlOrOfOrm aud alcohol. He said it
was the duty as well as the practice of sur
qeons. before using any anGstheuc, TO
,noxe a careful examination Of the patient,
Tor the purpose Of discovering II be or she
mad anv ailment which would make the use
of such drugs dangerous.
After making these explanations the
doctor said: EITHER acts by producing
congestion Of the brain and also cOnges-
tiop Of the lungs. ChlOrOfOrm depriveS the
brain of its blood and kills by paralyziug
tue heart, although the heart m9y De par
alvzed with ether because of its producing
sudden congestion Of the brain and partic-
ularlv OF those parts Of the brain which
control the action Of the heart
"There are certain diseases Of the kid
news. notably contracted kidneys, which
are accompanied with enlargement Of the
heart. In many cases of this form OF dis
ease the blood vessels Of the braia are
also affected, ana while in certain cases
the existence Of such disease might escape
the diagnostic skill Of the surgeon, the
necessary administration of ether might
be attended with fatal results.
at would be impossible he said, ITO
diagnose contracted kidney with certainty
during life. Then, too, there are certain
diseases Of the liver, like cirrhOsis Of the
liver. where. anything that tends TO increase
blood presseur might result in the enlarge
rneut Of the heart and reDder the admins
rration Of an anocsthetic very dangerous, IL
not fatal. Certain varieties of these affec-
tons might escape the notice Of the most
skillful diagnoStician. In other words, the
existence Of such affections under certain
circumstances could only be determined at
the post norton
at must De remembered, - he continued,
s'that these diseases cause the accumula-
ton Of effate material in the blood and sys-
TEN. which may themselves cause death BY
poisoning the system, and the administers
ton OF ether might accelerate these effects
by disturbing the circulation. Then, too, we
must not forget that in some cases the an
aesthetic itself may be the cause Of one Of
the many forms Of apoplexy, which could
not be anticipated by surgeons before the ad-
mimstraliOn Of the anRsthetic; for inStance,
the administration Of simple b pides
might accomplish the same results chic
reform