The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1909-05-06
SLEEP BY ELECTRICITY
Many Experiments With the
New AnaeSthesia.
STUDIED FIVE YEARS
Work Inspired by Professor Steph.
CD Luduc. of France-Gone Far
along the Path of Experimental
i,on-Luduc Twice Applied the
Current to Himself.

Important experiments in the use
{ e!ecG icity as an anaesthetic have
! 'sn made recently before the So
Sety OF Chemical Surgery in the
laboratory of experimental surgery
Ia connection with the College of
Physicians and Surgeons at Colum-
bia University.
The work here has been inspired
by DR.. Stephane Leduc of the Col
lege of Medicine, Nantes, France.
who has gone far along the path of
experimentation having twice ap-
! lied the current to himself.
The current which produces the
electric sleep" as the French call it.
is different from any pre- -icus,y
known. There is a sp cial appar-
stus for its application. the principal
feature of which is an interrupter
by means of which a maximum of
more than 5000 Interruptions a
minute may be given. The cur
rent is of low tension and constant
direction-that is to say. a current
"hich acts for a time. ceases, recon-
mences a2d SO CT b. regu.cr inter
walls.
As soon as the interruptions cease
the return to consciousness is imme-
date, and this return mas no re,a-
ton whatever in appearance or SEN
sation to the -e,urn from uncoa-
sciousness induced by present an2es-
thetics
Electric sleep cones almost i'm
nediately within a min.te or TWO af-
ter the curren. is turned on while
those who have witnessed the admin
istration of chloroform, ether or
ethyi chloride know that ii is a pro-
cess sometimes taking half an hour
or more. dependent upon the resist
ing power and general condition of
the patient.
Experiments for local anaesthesia
by means of this interrupting cur
rent, which have formed part o. the
experiments at Columbia. were COM
Fletely successful 1t was shown
'fat by placing an electrode over
medium nerve in the wrist the
ole body fed by tnat nerve was
scted The return to the norm"
$ instantaneous with no condition
az impaired circulation Dogs were
sf in these experiments, rather
than cats, rabbits or squirrels, for
the reason that the dogs nervous
system closely resembles tho human.
md its intelligence is Of help in that
II would show some resoLtm; Mt II it
suffered and would run away from a
further experimenting. Some Of
the dogs have been on the operating
table FIVE or six times, and do not
apparently mini 1t in the east.
So fa- the one weak link in the
chain of succe ssful experimenting
has been in the matter of respira-
tion. the interruptinl current when
applied with too great intensity. leav-
ing the heart action perfectly free.
but paralyzing the breathing
an effect which has 10 be met by pro-
tucing an artificial respiration.
which is done by the application of
another electric current.
All of the physicians IT the labor
atory agree that a new era in sur
gerry Is at hand when the old time
horrors of the operating table will be
no more.
There is no branch of medicine
and surgery that it will not reach, ''
they say. THE insomnia that comes
from excessive pain the terrible
reuralgic spasms, he pangs of child
tirth tven-the attendant pains of
which have always been one OF the
reproaches of medical science-all
these and more will be relieved
When the anaesthetic properties Of
ehloroform were announced. its dis
eoverer was looked upon as savior,
and at his death a tablet was erected
to MS memory in Westminster Alb
hey; but Just as We look back now
with horror at the idea that the old
time palliative to pain could be Of
fered, so shortly we will ook back
With the same horror at the idea of
Using any of the present anaesthetics
and drugs that are employed