New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-04-27

who ike that sort Of thing. that sort 81 thing
is Just about what they would like. The
practice is not vet obsolete.
THE last chapter in the glorious history of
ancsthcsia was written a icW years ago,
when We were invited 10 scc Professor
Thomas Ionncsco operate at the Postgradu-
ate Hospital. New York. With a long finely
tempered needle, he passed between the
spinous processes Dthc vctchrT comprising
the backbone and injected Il solution called
s,oyanc directly nto the spinal canal.
See this pale, apprchcnsiye woman, with
the ominouS "murmur. that suggestive
sound which denotes that her heart valve,
ike a badly fitting door, do not close COM
plctclvl The back flow Of blood. the in
sufiicicncv, Contraindicatcs the use OF gen
cral ancsthctic. But, while She IS 20 al IN
tents and purpose widcawakc, AL the region
below the point Of injection j. bcnumhci.
The most extensive operation can be- per
formed with perfect assurance that She VIII
feel no pain,-onc Of the most sensational
fcats Of modern surgery. and very valuable
when ether cannot be given with safety.
Perhaps intraspinal ancsthcsia will never
become very popular until We develop new
race Of surgeons, even II the possibility 81
raralvsis and death, which sometimes follow
is use. can be entirely removed.
MOT al surgeons possess the iron nerve
~ Of Virgil p. Gibncy, calmly 10 chiscl
through the skull and remove a tumor from
the brain. while the conscious but obtundcd
patient is cognizant Of every move.
l. savors too much OF viyisection, as the
antivivisectionists understand II, subject
ING animals 10 experiment while they are
conscious and Scnticnt, a procedure that no
true scientist would CountcnanCc; for even
the most iron-nervcd doctor IS glad 10 place
a handkerchief or other bandagc over the
ewes Of these patients while the operation IS
in progress. II has been claimed in favor OF
this method that some complication, some
thing entirely unexpected, may present
itsclf.-whcn, for example. the abdomen IS
opened. which the surgeon does not care
TO assume the responsibility OF removing
without sanction.
In this event it is very simple matter to
uncover the patients face, tell her all about
il and ask her consent TO It's removal.
II is awc-inspiring, this marvel OF cutting
off sensation by an injection into the spinal
canal but it seems too gruesomc, too IN
human. unless there are reasons why gen
eral narcotic should not be used. Kidney
disease. heart complications, and other or
qanic LESSONS might interdict the use Of
ether. chloroform, or nitrous oXid; but, bar
ring something Of this nature, there seems
no real reason why we should not operate
on thoroughly inscnsiblc patient.
The unconscious effort TO hurry through,
the tremendous nervous strain on every
bodv,-cven the patient must suffer from
annrchcnsion and the nervous shock
neradd to the shock Of the ordeal; for be 1t
known that, while the Unconscious BRAN
takes no cognizance Of what transpircs dur
ing an operation, yet the nerves are busily
engaged irving to convey the intelligence to
the central station" which has been tenn
norarilv cut off from the world Of feeling.
In fact. this matter has received profound
study within recent years, and 1t IS now adj
vocated that whenever possible, as IN sur
gerry Of the surface or the eXtremitics, IN adj
dition to the ether, hypo Of cocaine or
some Of its derivatives be given. This more
completely "cuts off the area Of operation,
thereby diminishing the shock. So not only
tbe central station will be isolated, but the
wires leading to it will be rendered incapable
Of transmitting the message OF pam.
Since the introduction Of the drop meth
od~-qiving ether a few drops at a time, al
WAYS allowing plenty Of oxygen-skilful sur
ccGns practically never lose patient from
the effects of the anesthctic. II has been
I.s..fN 80 u