The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1899-04-07
wHIsTLED WHILE UNCONSCIOUS
Either and Chloroform Produce a

Ether and ChlOrOfOrm Produce n
Queer Eject on n German.
DR.. Edwin Ricketts,, of Cincinnati, is
one of the largest men physically and
mentally in the Southern Surgical and
genealogical association He is
known asa daring and skillful operator,
and has achieved a reputation by his
contributions to medical journals on
abdominal surgery. Those who know
the doctor say he is as brave ordinarily
as Julius Caesar. Yet, like the Styx-
dipped Achilles, he has vulnerable
spot.
The story told on the genial surgeon
comes from his home, Cincinnati. He
was invited by fellow physician to be
present at particularly difficult dem
onstration. DR.. Ricketts, was late in
arriving and was forced to take DO
sition on the outer edge Of the circle of
doctors and students. Nothing had
been said about the condition of the
subject and he supposed it was a
cadaver. The figure was that of a
giant Teuton, and to all appearances
was perfectly rigid. Not a muscle
stirred and no breathing was percepti-
BILE. The location of the operation was
exposed, and the operator, graspinpi
his knife, advanced to the patient. AS
the cold steel touched the flesh start
ling thing happened. From beneath
the taken mustache of the form On the
table came the familiar notes of
Annie Laurie" whistled clearly and
distinctly. The effect on the company
was electrical. The operating sur
geon's knife fell with rattle to the
floor, the students rushed for the door.
and the older physicians stood trans
fixed with amazement.
| Clear and sweet came the notes of
the Old song, even to the last bar Then
the tune was switched to "Die Yacht
am Rhine" By the time this Was COM
pleted the room was empty of students.
but the veteran physicians remained
trembling at their posts. Suddenly
tne subject sat up. As he gazed over
tne row OF white-aproned figures "a
wild hight sprang into his eyes. With
yell he leaped from the table and
dealt the nearest physician a stunning
dow IN the face, then he attacked the
others. Chairs, tables, bookcases were
overturned, glasses smashed and furni-
ture demolished. The physicians got,
OUTSIDE and awaited the cooling of the
Gernan's passion. Gradually he be-
came calmer until at last he sank ex-
hitusted in a chair. The medical men
advanced in body and demanded an
explanation. The patient could give
none. For time he was crazv. DR..
hlcketts was informed that the man
had been under the influence of an an
esthetic and he was asked to assist in
Incorporation. The patient insisted that
the work go on, and chloroform was
substituted for ether. The knives were
brought out and an incision was ahont
70 be made when, for the second time
the strains of "Annie Laurie" fell unon
the ears of the company. This time
mere WAS no delay. Everybody excent
LII. Ricketts, fed to the street. A few
moments a; erhe too had to seek refnge
from the t.uge fist of the German. who
was again on the rampage. After this
second outbreak the demonstrat;o,,
was abandoned. The strange cons<.-
quences of the anesthetic were never
satisfactorily explained by the medical
1raternity.-St. Louis Post Disnat,;b
1