The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-11-30
PROLONGING A LIFE
A Dying Millionaire Lives a Week
on Air.
1T COST HIM $500 A DAY
He Wanted to See His Son Before
Giving Up the Ghost. and So
Oxygen Was AdmInis-
tered Artificially.
From the San Francisco Examiner.

From the San Francisco Examiner.
Mr.. Reichling was a very wealthy
mine-owner, who has resided Quietly
i'm Hayes Canyon. back of Piedmont
for a number of years. He built a mag,
nificent residence in that section and
spent a greater part of his time work.
ing in and about his garden, for he was
a great lover of flowers. He diverted a
little mountain stream into and through
his grounds and from working around
this de developed a very serious case OF
malaria Immediately there developed
q case of congestion of the brain that
amounted almost to apoplexy, and
pneumonia set in and valvular disease
OF the heart developed. The two latter
ailments were the ones that proved
fatal from the outset.
The pneumonia closed half of Mr..
Retchling's lungs, and with all of the
accumulated troubles II was found that
he could not inhale sufficient air to
maintain life. DR.. II. H. Muller had
been called to attend the dying man.
and he said that hope was very slight
indeed. Mr.. Relchling was barely con-
scfous, but he expressed a desire to see
hts son Albert, who was then on his
way TO Mexico on a pleasure trip. The
boy was telegraphed for, and the father
wanted so much to see him that the
physician determined to prolong life as
long as was possible 10 do so. and he
saw nothing to do but to furnish an
artificial amount of air TO do the work
that the decreased lung surface was
not able to do. oxygen being the es-
sentsal principle that was needed.
DIR. Muller decided on the artificial
administration OF oxygen, which per-
formed the part of concentrated air,
upon Saturday afternoon, and he imme-
diately sent for 100 gallons of oxygen.
Inls was furnished in large tank.
From this was run a long rubber tube.
with mouth-piece at the end and a
stopcock at the mouth of the tube and
at the mouth of the tank. This very
simple apparatus was all that was neces-
sary In this very complicated case,
though IL required close attention. The
mouth-piece was placed over the dying
mans mouth, and he was allowed 10
inhale the oxygen whenever the indi-
cations were that his breath was get
ting short.
During the first night of the trial of
the oxygen treatment and the artificial
administration OF breath, the entire 100
gaiions or oxygen were consumed. The
patient was found to be alive and
quite comfortable on Sunday under the
very complicated condition of his
health. Young Reichling had been
heard from and was on his way home
and. after consultation with DIR. L.
n. Woolsey, II was decided to continue
degree.
Oxygen was sent for in large quan-
titles, and on Sunday Reichling absorb
ed 900 gallons of oxygen in the effort 10
sustain life until his son could arrive
Inc result OF the administration of this
enormous amount of oxygen was quite
apparent. for on Monday there was a
marked Improvement. and, from hoping
merely to prolong life until the son
could arrive, hopes of his ultimate re-
covery were entertained. Still more
oxygen was given on Monday, and Mr..
day
1t was found that the administration
on the oxygen was gradually reduc-
ing the pneumonia and was relieving
the heart trouble, and the gas was
given him in the greatest quantities
that II was found that he needed. on
tuesday he was given 600 gallons; on
wednesday 400 gallons; on Thursday
200 gallons; on Friday 200 gallons and
on Saturday. the day of his death. 900
gallons were given him-making Z. 200
gallons in all.
only one curious trouble occurred
curing the treatment, and that was the
nrst Sunday, when, In changing the
tuoing from one tank to another. n
became mixed somewhat, and the fam
hy could not get II adjusted. In the
IN, and the patient was nearly dead
when DR.. Muller arrived and fixed the
apparatus and revived him with the
oxygen once more.
On Tuesday the son arrived. and Mr.
Reichling was so that he Recognized
MIN, though he could not speak. This
was what DIR. Muller had been fighting
on death Tor, but when IL was accom-
pushed he determined to try and save
patient - he
OF the diseases. The oxygen treatment
had oeen so successful that he contin-
ueu IT. though the amount given was
reduced with the reduction OF the
pneumonia, which was slowly but sure-
~ yielding. The artificial administra-
ton or the essential extract of air was
DONG more than even DR.. Muller had
hoped for.
On Thursday Mr.. ReichIing was able
10 recognize all of his family. and ON
that day his allowance was reduced 10
$40 gallons. But Friday night brought
great change. The pneumonia and
neart failure were yielding gradually.
out suddenly paralysis set in, and a
stroke OF apoplexy added itself TO the
many dinerent troubles that Mr.. RIech-
ing was battling against for life The
apoplexy was the cause of his deatb
ana after struggle for an entire week
win death. in which an artificial air
supply was brought into use. a new
complication carried him off.
Il believe that Mr.. Relchliny v-ould
nave recovered under the oxygen treat
ment had IL not been for the aro-
p1e1y, said DR.. Muller. THE oxygen
treatment where such Quantities are
administered Is not common. though
oxygen Is used in some cases wtfh
great success. The gas was given the
patient at intervals of from 10 "a ~
minutes, and he was allowed from 20
70 20 aspirations. The peculiar fea-
lures OF Mr.. Reichling's case were tha
great quantities OF gas given ana sbe
stubborn Tight against death thaf he
MADE: when any one OF the diseases
that he had might have caused death
alone"
Inquiries among the local hospitals
oeveloped the fact that pure oxygen in
tanks forms a regular part OF the
equipment OF all modern hospitals. n
Is only OF recent years that the wo,N
derful value Of the heaIth-givinr Gas
in emergency cases has been thoroussh-
~ demonstrated Oxygen, in copper or