The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-12-06
KIND
OF ANAESTHESIA
BY PRESSING NECK DOCTOR
MAKES HAND DEAD 70
PAIN.

Hartford, Conn. Dec. Gin this
presence Of twenty-four prominent
surgeons Of this city, DR.. William H
Fitzgerald, an ear and throat specialist
Of this city, who formerly practiced in
New York City, demonstrated a new
anaesthesia at st. Francis hospital
Instead Of using drugs or gas DR..
Fitzgerald applies pressure to the
nerves. He had used the method oc-
casionally in his private practice with
satisfactory results, but has only just
developed 1t to a. point where he
would use it in general hospital prac-
tice.
The method Of anaesthesia practiced
by DR.. Fitzgerald is based on the
known fact that there are areas in the
nose, throat and mouth that are high
ly sensitive and which contain deli
cate and intricate nerve sources. 1t
was by study Of the zones that DIR.
Fitzgerald worked out his discovery,
the method of applying which he dem
onstrated in so startling a way at the
clinic. -. .1'' .'.
The physician selected several
patients as subjects for his tests. In
one case he an~aesthetized the hand of
a woman SO that pins were thrust intds
the flesh in several places and she felt
not the slightest pain though fully
conscious. 80.
In another case a foot was anaesthet-
lied and fifteen missions made with
out the slightest. pain. Two teeth were
painleSs1y extracted.
In still another case, after producing
an anaesthized condition, the physi-
clan punctured q subjects eardrum
without any sensation Of pain. The
nIlnPftIpin nF q rH ri m i1 rrnHN nYSn I1IP
regarded as n Of the most painful Of
operations. -r-- r, s..
Another test was even more start
ling. After producing a condition of
characterization the physician remov-
ed a foreign object from the subjects
eye, and then, to the Amusement #
his watchers, drew a scalpel lightly
across the patients eye. In this case,
as in the others, are, patient suffered
not the slightest sensation of pain.
This demonstration by DR.. Fitzgerald
was a sequel to one which he gave at
the hospital two weeks ago, in which
he showed the preliminary steps in
the use Of the method.
BY pressure on the neck the ply
stefan, produced sensations in various
parts Of the body and demonstrated
that acute pain in any section may be
relieved quickly by mere pressure.
Il SAO oIC gSSNSA Oh duNdIIkd6CS IO 5DO
gained by the use Of reflex anaesthesia.
as demonstrated. In the first place the
use Of dangerous anaesthetics like
ether is avoided. In spite of the gen ugs
eral use of ether, it's administration is
still accompanied by danger, except in
the hands of an expert. It is some
times said deaths were caused by
operations, when a s~tricter statement
Of the truth would be that they were
due to the anaesthesia.
This danger is avoided when q
method of anaesthesia is used which
avoids of all use Of drugs or gases.
In the case of minor operations, such
az the removal of splinters, the use Of
the local anaesthesia avoids the
necessity for administering ether,
which requires twenty minutes or
more. though the actual operation can
De performed in thirty seconds.
DR.. Fitzgerald is a native of Middle
town and is recognized as a leading
specialist Of the state in treatment |of
the nose n throat. He was gradu-
ated from the University Of Vermont.
vas in h Boston city hospital three
years., and studied in Europe four
years. He Is an associate member OF
the New York Assembly or Medicine.
and a frequent contributor to profess
magazines.