The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-09-12
COCAINE IN SURGERY.

The anaesthetic properties Of cocaine.
when used as a hypodermic Injection.
nave been known for many years. but I'M
Ill recently only minor surgical opera
tions on the external parts OF the body
have been performed with its aid, and
cocaine has been classed as merely n To-
cal anaesthetic. Its future has, however.
suddenly been opened along new and
startling lines, says a writer I'm Popular
Science Monthly, by the discovery tina.
when II is injected into the spinal cord
IL causes total loss OF sensati below
the point OF puncture. SD that the most
elaborate and difficult operations may
be carried or while the patient chats
pleasantly with the surgeon and his at
tendants
This discovery like so many others In
medical science has been reaahed only by
successive stages OF experiments made by
men OF various nationalitles. until finally
eliminating I'm practical results These
experiments have been reported i'm medi-
cal journals from time 10 time in the last
ffteen years; but the discovery needed a
dramatic setting 10 bring II effectively
before the medical fraternity. and this IL
obtained at the Medical Congress held in
connection with the Paris Exposition. At
the clinics OF M. Tuffler on the occasion,
with all nations for eye-witnesses, one
operation after another was performed on
patients who were perfectly conscious
and Yet We're absolutely insensible 10
pain below the nipple lire. His feats were
the talk of the congress; many of the
most famous surgeons OF the world were
present and saw how comparatively sim
pie It was, after first rendering the point
OF puncture insensble with little CO.
caine, to cause the patient TO lean for-
ward. as II scorching on bicycle, thus
straining the vertebrae slightly apart.
when II was easy 20 insert the hypoder-
mic needle until the appearance OF a few
drops OF the spinal fluid showed that the
cord had been tapped. and then 10 attach
the syringe and inject the cocaine solu-
tion.
In some OF these operations the patients
left the operating table with almost no
unpleasant sensations: yet I'm the MAJOR
ity there was dizziness, nausea and
frightful headache, which in some cases
lasted as long as eight days i'm spite OF
every effort 10 bring relief. These disa-
greeable after-effects for which as vet
no remedy has been found. together with
the fact that consciousness In the pa
tient. even though no pain is felt, is un-
desirable both for himself and the opera
tor in such cases as the removal OF a
limb. must prevent this new anaesthetie
from riNaling successfully chloroforn
and ether. except I'm those not infrequent
cases when the use OF these latter would
be dangerous on account of weak heart.
tendencies To asthma or other complica-
tions. But. though cocaine cannot at
present take the place of other anaes-
thetics, II has given hint OF what may
be developed. and. doubtless, experiments
with IL Will be continued. The ideal. abso-
ga IA I'M
general anaesthetic is not yet discovered,
but unquestionably a new way has been
pointed out, and within few years the
results OF scientific experiments may just
ify the hope that has sprung up With this
method OF cocainizing the spinal cord.