The Sunday globe., 1901-08-11
THE ALTERNATIVE
Given Hon. John W. Langley, of the
Census Bureau.
AN IMMEDIATE OPERATION
Or Sure Death in a Few 0ays-HIs Nerve and
Physluue Pull Rim Through-HIs Dream Of
Judgment and Doom Under The Ether-Re
diuuIuus Questions Of Lady 10 "OlStIguTe-
ment and How the Nurse used the Razor

Clerk OF the Twelfth Census, will be
discharged the present week from the
Garfield Hospital after a siege Of ap'
pendicitis, for which he was success
fully operated on by the accomplished
physicians and surgeons OF that noted
institution Mr. Langley, as those VINO
know him will recall, is a large, power
ful-framed man of much supernuous
flesh. especially in the abdominal re-
gion albeit his heavy torso and VIDE
shoulders are of remarkable and noted
size and strength His months expe-
rience under treatment and operation
at the hospital has made remarkable
change in his physical appearance.
His 200 odd pounds Of flesh have been
reduced to a little more than 100 by
the ordeal through which he has pass
ed II was Mr.. Langleys third attack
of this modern disease and the opera
tion was simply an alternative OIL
either dying from the shock or contln-
uing his life for few days longer II
he decided to postpone or put 1t on.
The physicians presented the case 10
him fairly and frankly, and after a few
minutes silent contemplation Of his
chances, Mr.. Langley decided for the
knife and a chance to live. The very
week of his attack the brother Of one
of his Office clerks, young man named
Charles Elliott, was operated on and
died from the shock.
" nen the operation was decided on,
Mr.. Langley requested its immediate
performance, and the physicians com
plying. the necessary preparations
were soon over, such as bathing the
abdomen, scrubbing and cleansing with
antiseptic washings, etc. In two hours
and a half the operation was over and
the patient recovered from his artiti-
cial sleep. It is of this sleep The Globe
proposes to write, as Offering some Gu
rious speculations as to the effects Of
an anaesthetic on the human brain.
II NAV easily be inferred that the op-
Grafton itself was a splendid test OF
the scientific skill Of the operating sur
geons. inasmuch as the walls OF fesh
fbev had to cut through were unusual
" thick and the attack being the third
ono. the disease gradually becoming
more radically dangerous by the
months it took in development left
the yermiform appendix in an unusual
lv complicated condition. 1t had ad-
hered to everything it could attach IT.
self to. and the surgeons had to work
slow and careful with their fingers to
detach IT, the use of the knife being
impossibe under the conditions until
tbe aopendix itself was released from
the substances to which ii had adhered.
More than a yard of gauze had to be
stuffed in the orifce or opening and
hacked in until the patient felt it up
against his backbone, AS the danger
from inflammation and peritonitis be-
came less this gauze we gradually re-
moved eact day, and inch or two at a
time, and le wound sewed up. Under
the artificial sleep induced by the ether
Mr.. Langley relates ar intere'ting tale.
He says:
"The last thing | remember was the
doctor soothingly saying, You'll be all
right or "You are all right" | evident
ly carried this encouragement with
me when lost consciousness. Owing
to the length of time it took to per
Rorm the operation | had plenty of
leisure for my spirit to do some re-
markable travelling. 1t seemed to have
left my body for I had that peculiar
arial lightness which | have read or
heard that the disembodied possess,
found myself away up millions Of miles
above the clouds, and on top Of a
mountain (you know / am noun
taineer) or rather the spur Of one
was as fully conscious apparently as
/ am this moment. / knew that l had
no body, and the consciousness l pos
sessed was my spirit or soul. | rea-
soned clamly, speculatiyely, and took
NV bearing. ! appeared to be unable
30 move from the hole or declivity into
which l was apparently wedged. A
little distance from me | observed a
group of persons, and | instantly sur
missed that they were debating on my
ease. 1t occurred to me that l was
awaiting sentence, and that this group
was weighing my merits and demerits.
l naturally felt some trepidatiOn for
the result Here / was, helpless and
I beyond aid or assistance Of counsel or
friends. Whatever sentence was i'm
posed there was no appeal. If the low
ar regions, | must go there, unable TO
protest or obtain a respite. You may
be sure | went over with the rapidity
OF lightning in my mind all the events
OF my life, and anXiously weighed
them with the hope that the good
would at least balance the others, If
not overweight them. Presently one Of
the group approached me, and | began
to speculate If he was about to turn on
she steam, the sulphur or the fire.
was wondering if the sentence was ad-
verse, whether my present place OF
abode was to be the scheol Of my fu-
ture or II | would be dropped down
through space to the orthodox one Of
fire and birthstone. | tried in this ter
rible emergency or moment of eXpec-
tation, as the figure approached me, to
see If I had some freedom Of action.
/ moved my head from side to side,
and as ] did so the figure observed
you are all right you are all right
The tones were quiet and soothing,
and he again Bejoined the group, re.
peating as he retreated, You are all
right; fainter and fainter came the
words, unta | lost consciousness and
appeared to be annihilated. It was at
this moment ! reckon the crisis Of the
operation occurred, and that my pulse
indicated the gravity Of my condition.
as | subsequently, ascertained it was
found necessary to give me an injec.
tion OF whatever they call it-oXygen
nitrogen, or air--as | had ceased to
breathe. ! firmly believe that at that
moment, and for that infnitesmal
space Of time | was practically dead,
When I again returned to conscious.
ness, hswever, | was not on the noun.
tain, and marvelling what had happen
ed to me, I was gradually brought
around until | heard the voices Of
what / supposed was the group who
had been consulting on my disposition
for eternity. | twisted and turned my
head to see II could locate them, and
after enduring much mental uneasi-
ness, | opened my eyes and in a little