Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1900-12-06
SPINAL ANESTHESIA.
Wonderful Results and Promise of
"COrning Method

"COrning Method"
DR.. J. Leonard Corning, a distin-
guished specialist in nervous and men
tai troubles of New York and recog-
nixed authority in his branch of med
ical science, is the discoverer of ''the
Corning method of spinal an9sthesia,
q discovery that is regarded by med
ical authorities as almost equal to the
development of etherization.
Briefly described, the Corning meth.
cd is the accomplishment of anasthe-
sia, or loss of sensation, In the lower
half Of the body alone, without caus-
ing unconsciousness. 1t consists of the
injection into the spinal canal, as the
longitudinal cavity in the spine is call
ed, of a solution of hydrochlorate OF
cocaine, commonly called cocaine. The
injection Is made at about the waist
line. and the solution unites with the
nuid surrounding the spinal cord. For
this fluid it has a chemical affinity.
The paralyzing effect Of the cocaine Is
Immediately made manifest in the SEN
sorry fibers that communicate with the
nerves Of the lower half Of the body.
As result all sensation is lost in those
parts, and surgical operations may be
performed without pain to the subject.
Cufiously enough, the cocaine affects
the sensory but not the motor nerves,
and even after the injection is made
the patient is capable of locomotion.
The Corning method possesses in
6nite advantages over the method of
complete anRthesia. Patients are
spared the sitting vapors of chloro-
form or ether and the struggling for
breath and the horrible imaginings so
common to the old method. The dan
ger Of complete collapse from kidney
or heart disease Is done away with.
Although the patient retains his con-
sciousness and knows what is going
on, 1t Is usually deemed best to blind.
fold him.
Several hundred operations have been
performed in which the Corning meth
cd has been used without single ia
tality. Certain classes of nervous or
hysterical persons never receive the
new lOl lllNil AOi bAtNNS
could not withstand the nervous shock
of knowing that the operation is being
performed even without actual pain
For them complete anasthesia is ad-
yisable.
The new method is of inestimable
In hernia, in obstetrics and in all opera
tions on the lower limbs. That it will
ever be applied to the upper half of the
body is considered by eminent medical
authorities open to much doubt. Co
caine has a temporarily paralyZing eff
feet and Is not always trustworthy,
and the danger Of applying it to the
vital nerve centers, which are all situ
ated above the middle of the body and
which control the vital processes-res-
piration, heart action, brain action and
80 on-cannOt he overestimated. Co
caine must never be allowed to reach
these important nerve centers.
The Corning method, although of in
finite and incalculable benefit to man.
kind. must be confined to the hands OF
skillful and experienced surgeons. In
the hands of noyices or reckless eXper-
imenters 1t is capable of great harm
even when applied to the lower regions
Of the body. 1t Is an exceedingly deli
cate operation, for all spinal surgery
requires infinite pains and exhaustive
knowledge.
DR.. Corning's discovery was not acci
dental but was the result of logical
thinking on the subject Of cocainiZa-
tion. He made his discovery in 1885,
only about six months after the discoy
cry of cocaine itself Only within a
few months, however, has his method
come into general use, owing to its del
fcacy and also to what DR.. Corning
calls "an accident Of science" Be-
sides, DR.. Corning Is not a surgeon,
and 1t was for the surgeons to take up
his discovery. A German professor
recently attempted to take the credit,
but 1t Is a matter of record that the
honor unquestionably belongs to the
able New York physician.