The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1914-06-27

naming susceptible to suggestions
and in full possession of muscular
powers. 1t is, as may be seen, a
very fine balance, in the states OF
consciousness, and can be secured
only under special conditions and
through special knowledge of the
use of the drugs that cause it.
These special conditions and this
special knowledge have been worked
out in the Freiburg hospital.
Early experiments in the use of
the drug in this field were made at
the University's medical school by
DR.. Won Steinbuchel, whose aim was
to reduce the pain of labor without
reducing muscular action.
"Kronig continued, with Profes-
sor CAUSES aid, the experiments of
Won Steinbuchel. His aim was to
regulate the dosage in such a way
that definite method for obtaining
the exact amount of nconsciousness
required might be established.
"Drs. Kronig and Gauss found.
after long and detailed observation
of many actual cases. that by slight
ly increasing Won Steinbuchel's dos
age they could, with perfect safety,
induce the state of unclouded con-
sciousness, in which there was COM
plete forgetfulness of the course of
birth.
This forgetfulness is the twilight
sleep of Freiburg. the technique of
which, once perfected, has never
since required change. And now
the production of it has been given
added certainty, very recently. by
the discovery by Professor Straub,
of the pharmacological department
of the University. of a method for
the preservation of scopolamin in
solution, which makes it possible for
the practitioner to obtain prepara-
ton that has no variability. This
advance is of immense Importance.
For, in the past the 'variableness' of
this drug in solution has been one of
the greatest hindrances to its use."
The object. of course. is to abolish
pain without going so far as to abol-
ish reflex action also; for it is on the
reflexes that nature depends in the
process that is taking place. 1t has
been found that the exact point
where the desired condition of nerve
and brain is reached may be ascer-
tanned by simply testing the men,
ory. Professor Kronig describes the
sleep and the essential memory test
as follows:
Ordinarily, from half to three
quarters of an hour after the first
injection, the drug takes effect. The
sleep commences. The suffering in
creases and the patient has not lost
consciousness. About an hour from
the time the first injection was given,
the second is given-of scopolamin
| in much smaller quantities, generally
without morphium. In the succeed
ing doses scopolamin is usually en-
ployed alone.
about this time also. begin the
tests of amnesia. An objects shown
the patient. Half an hour later she
is shown it again. and is asked If she
has seen it before. If she remembers
| it. we consider it an indication that
we should give another dose of the
same strength. We select for these
tests objects connected with the inn
mediate environment. Half an hour
after the second injection, the patient
may be asked if she has had one. II
she has no recollection of it, we con-
slider the amnesia sufficient, No
, repetition of the dose should be given
until memory exists"
Since Won Steinbuchel an ! kronig
first used scopolamin morphlum'
physicians have experimental with
it In their clinics more or less through
out Europe. and altogether the total
reputed experience now carries be-
tween ten and twelve thousand cases.
The method has not. 1t appears, won
favor everywhere. There has been
/ a lively controversy between the ad-
vocates and opponents of the use OF
scopolamin. which is in many ways
like the controversy over the use OF
etbar and chloroform in the AUS.