The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-01-15

ana dW1ui heights OF Calvary
Pale peaks Of last extremity;
them,
Your doves Of promise sing to them,
. stare Christ Of Bethlehem
Harley r. Wiley, in the January Svrib-
per.
EPSON Salts an Anesthetic.
Announcement of the discovery of a
new anesthetic-safer cheaper and
simpler than any hitherto known-is
ABOUT to be made by the Rockefeller In
stitute for Medical Research. Plans
were under way yesterday for the
spreading of the important tidings to
the medical and surgical world.
The new anesthetic is nothing else
than plain, common EPSON salts, or, to
give it its scientific name, sulphate of
magnesia. 1t was discovered by DR..
Samuel J. Meltzer, one of the Rookie
Teller experimenters. It's greatest value
is that it permits any sort of an OPP
Grafton without any danger to the heart
of the patient
Either local or general anesthesia, it
is said, may be produced by the injec-
familiar drug into the nerve tract gov
erning the sensations of the part to be
operated upon.
The beneficial effects of the discov-
ery-the number of lives that may be
saved through its use-will more than
repay tu0 $O,UUU,UOO Will WHICH JOIlIl L.
Rockefeller has endowed the institute.
It will prevent deaths from the power
full reactionary influence Of ether and
chloroform, the institute workers be-
lieve. And it will give chance of life
to those whose fragile hearts will not
stand the stress of the administration
of those drugs.
DR.. MeltZer'S experiments have been
going on quietly for long time. But
much success has crowned his efforts.
The American learned yesterday that it
will not be long before he makes public
the result of his many tests.
The present discovery came about al
most entirely by accident, the director
explained. DR.. Meltzer was experiment.
ing about two years ago with various
simple drugs to find out what place
they had in the economy of the body
He injected for that purpose a solution
of sulphate of magnesia into dog.
It was noticeable after few minutes
that the animal grew quiet and listless.
Its respiration grew slower and fainter.
Finally the breathing apparently
ceased.
That was a new bit of knowledge
that magnesium sulphate affected the
respiratory system. DR.. MeltZer ponder
ed over it. Then he got a bellows, and,
with a tube, produced artificial respira-
ton in the dogs lungs The animal
revived, scampered away, and still lives.
9 Further tests proved that with a
weaker solution the dogs respiration
returned naturally, and that it was
completely insensible to pain during
the period Of anesthesia While the dog
was senseless, DR.. Meltzer found that
its temperature neither rose nor fell.
Temperature rises with ether or chloro-
form. He found, too, what was more
important, that its heart beat with alb
solute, answering regularity. Irreg-
ular pulsation follows ether and chloro-
form.
Suspended animation was caused in
this case by suspended respiration in
plain words, a practical stoppage OF
the breath.
Tests followed with other animals
among them monkey. The latter ex-
pertinent was performed before many
members Of the Academy of Medicine
The beast, ili-tempered and vicious, was
Gained first by a small Injection. Then
1t was anesthetized.
This suggested that the injection
might be valuable in the treatment OF
insane persons. So experiments were
performed-for the first time upon hui
man beingS-at a local institution for
the insane. Several persons were rem
dered quiet and tractable without being
made unconscious or without apparent
ly losing any Of their faculties.-New
York American.
Missed a Walk.
In certain provincial town In Ire
land dwelt two Celts-Hennessy and
O'Brien-who one day set out to seek
their fortunes in new country In
Dublin they became separated, and
Hennessy, unable to find his comrade
embarked for America alone. Arrived
in New York he secured a position as
diver and was put to work near the
docks.
Meanwhile, O'Brien. after an arduous
but vain search for his friend, took a
ship bound for New York. AS the ship
was being locked, he saw a diver just
emerging from the water; and as
O'Brien had never seen a diver before
he watched this ones every move with
wonderment. But his delight and
amazement knew no bounds when see
ing the diver remove his helmet, he
recognized his old-time companion
Hennessy. Suddenly, however, a great
light broke upon O'Brien's mind, and
his countenance underwent a change
There was world of reproach in his