The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1909-04-08

London, EnG'and.-Serious opera
tons performed upon patient WHO
retains full consciousness and
watches the surgeon carving Bis
flesh without the least discomfort
are now said to be possible by means
of a new local anacsthetic. \ pin
prick that accompanies the "lum nar
puncture" is ali the pain. The
patient is enabled to witness the
saving OF Of both lees, if need be,
without vinEz:lS al eTelasa. Per
haps r2cst patients would rather net
see such thines and would prefer TN
concoIJg&nes~, bIt it IS possible fGi
them to remain conscious and loo
the ether way CT have screen T..
terposed between their eyes and 1.
seat of operation.
They wheeled ne into the operat-
Ing theatre on q long barrow" So!
patient, who experienced the lo@s
anaesthesia. u cont think I locke
frightened. They made ne sit cn
the operating table, with my legs
hanging over the side, and then be
gan vigorously scrGbbing the skin
over the small OF lly back.
Now said the surgeon, just
single prick ana it's all over
My heart went of like a sledce
hammer at that, but l bit my lips
and waited. The prick came-a
mere pin scratch-and l breathel
again. I understood they were il
jecting something into my backbone,
but the opera ton, whatever it was,
lasted only q moment. Then the
most extraordinary thing happened.
Suddenly | lest every tree Of feel
ing in my body from MY ribs down
ward. it is q feeling which is quite
in3escribable, bj:t it was exceedingly
pleasant. Tie house surgeon asked
ne at>this point if l would like some
wool put into n2y ears TO prevent me
hearing what was said, but refused
this. as also the offer Of screen be-
tween my faco and the seat Ct opera
tion. They delnurred little over
the latter, bat at last consented. I
felt that if saw everything / would
care less about it.
Are you reaay?' asked Mr.. Z,
treating ne to g curious smile.
"'Quita' said.
Knife, then, sister
81 was too excited to feel particu
larly frightened but when | saw the
blade actually in contact with the
flesh, and that flesh my own, l con-
TESS that il nadc ne draw NJ
breath A little red line followed the
course OF the knife across the skin,
and l req allied with a curious sense Of
mingled unreality and satisfaction
that the operation proper had begun.
and that it was absolutely free from
pain OF any SORT. | must have
laughed aloud SO great was my re-
Lief, for Fir. Y. looked Up sharply
Nothing at all said !. IF / didn' t
see It, | wouldn't believe that it wa:
! whom you were cutting up After
that we kept up Tun1ing fire Of re
marks. Now absolutely ct my eaG9,
] watched him open gradually down
through skin and muscles toward
that troublesome little appendix Of
Itl1ic. / &c ~ Tie dpi'SIHih alter II
was found and felt a malicious pleas
ure il watching 1t ticd Of and cut
away.
'Goo3hy and good riddancc,' ]
said
! MI Y. laughed heartily and
asked ne to tell him exactly low ]
felt
II feel as if the only things I
wanted en- earth were & cup of tea
and cigar
They fetched the tea on little
tray. The cigar left nothing to be
desired. | was 50 delighted with
! everything that when | had seen the
last stitch inserted | could have
jumred OF tee table and danced a JIG
around the theatre"
The patient was able to read the
newspapers and talk to his wife the
same afternoon and he soon recov
cred. The only disadvantage Of the
lumbar puncture Is that it cannot bs
used fer an operation above the low
est lib.