The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1893-03-27
ETHER
~
Particulars Of the Death or Colonel
Elliott F. Shepard, the Cele-
brascd Editor.
His Death Due TO Odema Of the Lungs,
Brought on by Taking
Ether.
The Case o Very Rare One, and the Sad
Ending Could Not Have Been
FOretold.

of Colonel EliottF. Shepard. editor of the
New York Mail and Express, who died
shortly after 4 p. m. was due TO odema
of the lungs, caused by the admininstra-
ton of ether by the physicians who
were about to perform a sergical
operation. A month ago Mr.. Shepard
noticed symptoms that led him to be-
lieye that he was suffering from stone
in the bladder. He let it go and did not
consult a physician until a week ago.
when lie sent to DR.. McLane and told
him of his suspicion. The doctor urged
him to submit to an examination and
undergo an operation if necessary. The
colonel was undecided at first but finally
agreed and Friday was fixed on as the
day. About 9 o'clock, just before the
arrival of the doctor, he
Complained of Severe Pains
and said that he thought he would go
to bed. The distress he suffered left
him soon after and when the physicians
and nurses came in he was i'm good
spirits. He had induced his wife and
youngest daughters. Marguerite and
Alice, to go out for the day. His ION,
Elliott F. Shepard, Jr., was with him.
About / o'clock Colonel Shepard said
that he was ready for the surgeons and
they, with the nurses, began the work
Of putting him under the influence of
bther. He had inhaled the drug but
two or three times when the physicians
Detected Dangerous Symptoms
and stopped the inhalation. Colonel
Shepard sank rapidly and for a time it
was feared that he could not be rallied.
Powerful restoratives were admins
tered. At the end of an hours work
with oxygen he was restored to partial
consciousness and he continued appar-
emily to rally until about 4 o'clock.
Then, without warning, and for no ap-
parent reason. he began rapidly to sink.
The oxygen treatment was resumed,
but it was of no avail and at 4:2O he
died. He was unconscious and his death
was peaceful. The cause of death given
by the physicians was odema of the
lungs.
DIR. McBurney's Statement.
DR.. McBurney made the following
statement: There was nothing about
Colonel Shepard" he said, ito indicate
that the administration of ether would
be attended danger. Nevertheless Of
course we took all the precautions
known to medical science. Besides DIR
McLane, and myself, my associate, DR.
Theodore Parker, was present and as
sisted. The patient lay on the bed
Immediately after the first inhalationl
of ether, the patient gave signs that ht
was not bearing it well, and he choked
and breathed hard and quickly.
OF course no ether was given ColoneI
Shepard after the first inhalation, but
he never rallied strongly, and never be
came fully conscious. Once he said
something about the operation, evi
IDENTIFY thinking it was over. We tried
artificial ~respirations and every possible
means to save the patients life, but al
to no effect. The cause of death was
odema of the lungs, brought on by
ether, of course. / sincerely hope thai
the public will not rush to thu
opinion that ether is very danger
GUS. OF course we never know what
is going to happen when we administer
ether, IN the same way as we never
know what is going to happen wher
we enter a railway train. Ether j.
ordinarily a safe agent. The statemen,
that Colonel Shepard had Bright's dis
ease is ridiculous. We made a specia,
examination for Bright's disease and
Colonel Shepard had not a trace Of it.
DR.. McBurney said he never had .
case like Colonel Shepard's and they
were very rare.