Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-02-13
Raised from the Dead.

As the result of a long and desperate
battle with death, physicians at the
German Hospital yesterday restored
Mrs. Clara Jefllreys to life after she had
been practically dead for several hours,
The woman wanted to die. Some two
years ago her husband left her, taking
with him her two little children, to
whom she was greatly attached. Brok-
en- in health and spirits. she took ur
her home with her brother, Thomas j.
Bulley, at No. 26l4 Ridge avenue, some
months ago.
Last week, when Mrs. Jeiireys had
quite recovered her health, and was in
deed splendid specimen of woman
hood, her mother died. This last sor-
row preyed upon her mind, and she
determined to seek rest in death. She
purchased two ounces of unadulterated
iaudanum at a drug store near 18th
street and Ridge avenue, on Friday
evening, and returned home. Her I'M
usual brightness attracted the attention
of the family, and when they missed
her about 9 o'clock, her brother, Thos.
]. Bulley, went to her room, where he
found her standing before mirror with
vial between her lips, and the dark
liquid pouring down her throat. He
rushed to her side and wrested the bot
tie from her after she had swallowed
nearly all of the drug but by almost
superhuman effort, she recovered it,
and before he could prevent it she had
drank all but few drops.
A physician was summoned, and for
hours he worked with her; but gave
her up for dead at midnight, and adj
vised the family to send her to hos
pital, where, with proper appliances,
heroic measures might save her.
A patrol wagon landed Mrs. Jeilreys
at the German Hospital soon after mid
night, and the doctor in charge at once
pronounced her dead. Not the slight
est trace of life could be discovered, al
though every test was tried. Not wish
ing to appear inhuman, the doctor de-
cided to try the most heroic measures
known to medical science, and after an
hours hard work the faintest tinge of
color was noticed in the woman's lips.
Artificial respiration had been pro-
duced at the start, and every moment
seemed an hour after the appearance OF
the first sign of life.
New and fresh men were summoned
to handle the body under the close per-
sonal care of the doctors, and as the
color slowly spread over her face the
workers renewed their efforts.
After time the patient showed such
marked improvement rs to warrant
the doctors in permitting her to re-
sumo natural breathing. She made two
sasps for breath and fell dead away
again.
Electrodes connected with an alter
Mating current were strapped to her
breasts. These were charged to the
highest safe voltage, and as the current
changed from side to side the body
raised and lowered with it. A strong
man on his knees forced her chest up
and down, while another pulled and
pushed her body over cylinder, bend
ing her head up and down and pulling
her arms up and down like pump
handles. They strapped her hands to-
getber high above her head and smack,
ed them down against her hips hard
enough to blister them. A person wit
Messing the operation would have
thought it most inhuman treatment;
but it was the only means of saving her
life, and very slim hope at that
At the first real sign of life attend
ants grasped her feet and put her legs
through all the motions of walking. Ms
soon as one man was tired out another
took his place. They rubbed her limbs
with the palms of their hands and
kneaded her museiea Until they would
have been sore had she been sensible Of
feeling. When she began breathing
naturally they stood her on her feet
and RACED her up and down the long
room like a quarter horse, now and
again returning her to the QHerqtilrg
table, where the electricity was applied
again and again.
Once more the heroic measures were
adopted, and finally the doctors and
t1e;r attendants were delighted to see
Mrs. Jefffeys open wide her eyes and
raise her clenched nsts 10 be- temples.
Then she partially raised hersei5, thai
signifed she was very much alive. 4
lev hours later she left the hospital,
having entirsly feccoyered.-Rhilladel-
phia Record.