Omaha daily bee., 1896-07-05

then regarded as essential to the operation,
although II has since been discarded, |
assisted HIM, nearly beside myself with
for the strongest influences had
been brought to bear upon me to dissuade
my husband from making this attempt.
| had been told that one OF two things was
and my husbIld would be ruined by the
worlds ridicule. or he would kill the
patient ami be tried for manslaughter.
Thus l was drawn in two ways, for while
| had unbounded confidence in my husband,
1t did not seem possible that so young a
man (as he was only u years old at this
time) could be wiser than the learned aud
scientific men before whom he proposed to
make his demonstration.
After resting a few hours. my husband
was on early in the morning to sec the
instrument maker. for there were still
changes necessary in the inhaler. From
that moment l saw nothing of him for
twelve hours of mortal anxiety. How
those hours dragged along as | sat at the
window expecting every moment some
messenger to tell me that the patient had
died under the ether and that the doctor
would be held responsible. Two O'Clock
came, 3 o'clock, and it was not until 4
that DR.. Morton walked in with his usual
genial face so sad that l felt failure must
have come. He took me in his arms.
almost fainting as l was, and said tenderly:
We'll. dear, | succeeded
In spite of these words his gloom of man
ner and evident depression made it impos-
sible for me to believe the good news. II
seemed as II he should have been so highly
elated at having accomplished one of the
most splendid achievements OF the century.
and yet there he was, sick at heart, crushed
down. one would have said, by a load of dis
enlargement. This was due not only to
bodily fatigue and the reaction of his great
effort, but to an intuitive perception of the
troubles in store for him. 1t is literally
true that DIR. Morton never was the same
man after that day; his whole after life
was embittered through this priceless boon
he had conferred upon the human race.
ACCOUNT OF A FAMOUS OPERATION.
OF the three men now living who saw this
irst operation upon a patient under the in
huence OF ether one is DR.. Robert Davis of
Fail River. He was then a medical student
in Boston. and he has given me the de-
scription of what happened on this memoir
able occasion. The amphitheater of the
operating room was crowded with members
of the medical profession, doctors and stu
dents, all curious and skeptical as to the
outcome of the experiment to be made. All
the great surgeons of Boston were present,
including the celebrated doctor, Jacob
Bigelow, whose son, DR.. Henry j. Bigelow, a
young and enthusiastic surgeon of about DIR.
MortOn's age, was a warm friend of DR..
Morton's, ana perhaps the only man present
who had faith in him.
1t must be said, however, he had more
grounds for his belief than the others since
he had been privileged to witness some of
my husbands previous tests with ether in
private.
The hour for the operation arrived and
Or. Morton was not on hand. Five minutes
passed, ten minutes, and then DR.. Warren,
the eminent surgeon, looking around with a
smile on his face, slightly sarcastic, sugges-
ted as DR.. Morton was not present it might
no we'll IN LOT the pppratiCn 90 on in the
usual way. The patient had been brought
in and was lying on the operating table
deathly white. doubly apprehensivo of what
was to come. At that moment DR.. Morton
came in, breathless from haste, carrying the
inhaler that had just been delivered to him
by the maker. and which had nearly been
the cause OF the fGilure of the test.
Without any delay and with a GOODNESS
and self-possession in strong contrast with
the general tension of the assembly DR..
Morton proceeded to administer sulphuric
ether to a human being for the purpose of
destroying pain by forcing anacsthesia in a
surgical operation for the first time in the
worlds history. Pouring the liquid into the
inhaler, he lifted the latter to the patients
~nostrils and held it there for some minutes,
allowing the man to breathe the fumes.
Then, looking into his face intently and feel
ing the pulse, he turned to DR.. Warren, who
stood near by, his surgeons knife behind
him.. and said in a quiet tone that sounded
plainly lnTOuBn IN SllcnNt. -F
Your patient is ready, doctor"
Then in all parts of the amphitheater
there came a quick catching OF the breath,
followed by a silence almost deathlike as
DR.. Warren stepped forward and prepared
to operate. The sheet was thrown back,
exposing the portion of the body from
which a tumor was to be removed. an
operation exceedingly painful under ordi-
nary conditions, although neither very
difficult nor very dangerous.
ri. ,G,,, 1n,r u with nVGC nlnGaI
IS if in sleep. but everyone present fully
expected to hear a Shrek of agony ring
out as the knife struck down into the sen
s:tive nerves. But the stroke came with
no accompanying cry. Then another, and
another, and still the patient lay silent,
sleeping while the blood from several art
cries spurted forth. The surgeon was do
ing his work and the patient was free from
pain, so it seemed at least, and all in
wonder strained their eyes and bent for
ward. following eagerly every step in the
operation. Those in the front rows leaned
Gar over or knelt on the floor so that those
behind might see better.
The operation advanced quickly and
easily to its finish. The tumor was taken
away, the arteries fastened with ligatures,
the gaping wound sewed up, then dressed
and bandaged. Half an hour covered the
whole of it. During that time no cry or
groan escaped the Tatient, no indication OF
suffering.
DR.. Morton aroused the patient after the
operation was completed and said:
Did YOU feel any pain,
The patient replied, NO
Then DR.. Warren turning to the expectant
audience said in his impressive manner:
Gentlemen, this is no humbug.' All
pressed about DR.. Morton and congratulated
him upon his success. This event renders
October 1G. 1916, a day ever memorable and
glorious in the worlds history, for pain in
surgery, up to that time inevitable, was
conquered and the human race put In
possession of what today it counts its most
priceless blessing, namely, anaesthesia.
ELIZABETH WHITMAN MORTON.
Good Champagne repairs waste. If you
feel tired try a bottle of Cooks Imperial
Extra Dry Champagne; boquet unriyalled.
JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY' POEMS.
Written for The Bee.
LAL i nl,a,r. IIln to rod ,nm fer tlnN |