The Florence tribune., 1898-11-12
W0NDERFULSTOICISM
Displayed by an Old G. A. R. Vet
 eran of Chicago.
Smokes a Cigar While Undergoing q Critical Surgical Operation Sees His Own rn-
 testfnes.
"Can I light cigar?" Certainly, if you feel like it." Have you mateh2"

7
 Have you mateh?'
 The above conversation took place in the amphitheater of the Cinein- nati city hospital q fen days ago be- tween a gell-known sltaff surgeon anc a patient on the operating table. Cigar and 3 match were soon forthcoming and TTtiT e2fraord na1y seif-s1t+sfac-- ton the patient blew the rings oi smoke high ia air, and # seemed as it never before had he enjoyed the weed so much. Yet while inc smoke wreath: were ascending a keen-edged knife wa: blowing its way into the mans abdo- men and the blood was squirting in streams from numerous arteries. Oc- easionaly the mar would raise his head and watch the progress of the work, then continue placidly pulling his cigar. On such occasions the sur geon would stop long enough in his work to ask:
 ''Does it hurt?"
 Not bit.''
 And still the knife would slash and cut with lightning speed, nurses and internes standing around watching the proceedings with interest CT handing the instruments to the operator, or catching up the flowing blood. But still the chief actor in the scene con tentedly puffed away at his cigar.
 Raise your head a moment" said the surgeon. The patient obeyed Look down here" The patient did as he was told, while the surgeon held mass of connective tissue ia his hand which, apronlike, covers the intes- tines. Beneath it the intestines were clearly in view.
 ''You are perhaps the only man who ever saw the workings of his own in testines," observed the doctor. The patient was not in the least alarmed and took more than a negative interest is the further progress of the opera tion.
 The stoic who had this singular ex. perience is Martin Cohn, aged 64, veteran of the civil war. whose home is at 390s Indiana avenue Chicago Three days ago he limped into the citY A0srilaIs and the lines about his face indicated great phYsieal suffer ing. His blue eeat, with a C. I. k butr ton in the butlonhole, insured kindly reception. He stated that he had left Chiekamaugs three days before and was in severe pain from an oia rupture. a relic of his soldier days. To the skill ful eye of the examining physician it was at once apparent that only an operation would bring the desired re- lief. and he was therefore sent to the surgical service to prepare himself for the ordeal An examination there by the staff surgeon confirmed this con clusion, but also showed that the man was suffering from heart trouble which would make it dangerous to em- ploygeneral anaesthesia. Under chlor- oforIn or ether rendering him uncon- scicus, and therefore obvious to pain. the doctor was comprehensive that their action upon the weakened heart might prove fatal. In this dilemma he 6e- cided to use local anesthesia, which. applied to the surface of the skin. deadens the pain caused by the E1lIe but is only used in minor operations. Cohn was told the existing conditions. but did not finch for moment. h fact he seemed to take certain pride in being able to demonstrate his cour- age, and his request to smoke cigar while the operation was in progress was prompted by the desire to dis play that bravery to it's utmost ex- tent.
 1 The operation was the usual one from inguenal hernia, an incision seven inches in length on the right side of the abdomen, below the nm bilious, being made. Nearly a1i hour was consumed in its performance, but he never wineed, smoking his cigar to the end.-ghicago Chronicle.