The evening times., 1900-03-02
ETHER CAUSES DEATH.
A Wealthy Young Man Expires Dur
ing an Operation.

ing an Operation.
NEW YORK. March 2-While undergo
! ing surgical operation, which was con-
! sidered to be of trifing Importance, John
! Groh, wealthy young brewer. of this
! city, died Tuesday afternoon on the oper-
| ating table in the New York Polyclinic
Medical School and Hospital, at 21i East
| Thirty-fourth Street
At his own request ether had been /ad-
ministered to Mr.. Groh He had COM
planned of the pain while the surgeons
were at work. Only a small portion of the
drug was administered but almost i'm
mediately the patients respiratory system
became paralyged and the heart ceased
beating. Every means known to the sur
geons was exerted in the effort 10 revive
him, and hope was not relnquished for
more than two hours
Mr.. Groh for several years had been suf-
| fering from growth in the back of his
nose, behind the posteri9r mares. When he
was awake ii bothered him little, but when
ne slept it made breathing difficult and
thus caused him great nervousness. Under
the advice of DR.. c. f. Gilbert. who had
long been his family physician, he decided
TO have the growth removed He was told
that the surgeons would require only a
few minutes for the operation, which was
expected 10 be CT simple natur~
Notwithstanding the assurances of the
surgeon, Mr.. Groh was extremely nervous
over the prospect of recovery, saying that
he had a premonition that the operation
would be of much more serious nature
than was expected. On the advice of Dr.
Gilbert he went to the Polytechnic Hospital
Monday and rented room as private pa
tient
It was arranged that he should have
complete rest during The twenty-four
hours preceding the operation. He was
instructed as to his diet. and promised his
physician TO have himself in perfect physi-
cal condition by Tuesday afternoon.
Instead of needing the advice OF the
physician he went out Monday afternoon
and absorbed a large amount of stimu
lants, in order, as he said, to nerve him
self for the ordeal. This was unknown 10
the surgeons before whom he appeared
Tuesday afternoon at the hour agreed
upon.
Dr. Robert c. Myles a specialist, who
had arranged TO perform the operation,
found Mr.. GrOhs heart in 4 normal con-
dition. and there seemed To be no reason
why the work should not proceed. Dr.
Myles at first used only cocaine, but when
Mr.. Groh complained of the pain and asked
for ether he was humored. 4
Competent assistants administered the
drug, and they We're quick TO see that all
was not well with the patient. The opera
tion was al once abandoned. but before any
attempt could be made to revive Mr.. Groh
his respiration had entirely ceased. Dr..
Myles, who deeply regrets the outcome.
is relieved of all responsibility, as he took
every precaution in advance.
Mr.. Groh was about thirty-four years
old, and after his fathers death. five years
ago, he was often before the public, having
gone a pace that few could follow. Years
ago Michael Groh and his wife. Julia A
GrOh. established a brewery in West
Twenty eighth Street which they jointly
managed to their great profit. The senior
Groh died in 1895 leaving an estate valued
at upward of s., 000.0 000 to be divided
among his widow and two sons. Michael
and John. Michael died two years after
his father, leaving his share in the estate. !
which had been considerably increased. to
his brother.
John Groh married in October. 1897 and !
with his wife. Susie, established an elabor- !
ate home at 10 Riverside avenue. With
IN four months the young couple cOnclud- /
ed they had made mistake. and drew up /
an agreement to live apart for year. A |
little later Groh discovered his wife in the |
company of a young man. and three suits !
for divorce followed-Counter- suits be- |
tween the Grohs while the wife of Mrs. !
GrOhs companion also sought relief from |
her marital bonds. After sensational |
trial Mr.. Groh obtained decree.