The Cook County news-herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Cook County, Minn.) 1909-current, 1915-11-04

once. doctor?"
Immediately" answered the direc.
tor. evidently impressed by Matters
manner. Il will have the fire start
ed under the sterilizing tank"
"Then, we will go straight to the
anesthetizing room," answered Mat.
tel. Two orderlies were in waiting,
and at his command they lifted the
stretcher out of the ambulance and
conveyed it up the steps. We fol.
lowed along the hall and into a tiny
room with big gas-bag apparatus at
one end and bottles and masks on
shelves In the center was a glass
table with enameled legs, upon which
the count was deposited. The order
lies removed his clothing and put on
a pair Of tightly fitting pajamas. AS
the coat was hung upon the wall Count
Bechthold turned his eyes upon Mat
tel with fearless inquiry. knew he
was thinking of the pocketbook.
Through partly open door l saw
the little operating theater with it's
circle Of benches. An attendant had
lit the gas beneath little tank of wa
ter and was setting out the tray of in
struments ready for boiling.
Without ceremony Mattel took down
a suit of linen overalls and a linen
coat that hung by the door and ad-
justed them about himself. Then he
began securing his hands and rub
bling them with perchloride at a sink
in the corner
You will forgive the waiting, sir?"
he inquired of the count, turning to-
ward him, the nailbrush in one hand
and cake OF soap in the other.
PRAY don't mention it," replied
Count Berchthold, now evidently CON-
pletely treasured.
The water in the tank began to
bubble, and the orderly came out.
II shall not need your assistance"
said Mattel to him, and somehow he
managed to convey the hint to the d.
rector, who was standing in the door,
way, with the same words, for that
gentleman bowed stifly and retired,
little huf1ly, thought, which was
no cause for wonder. Then Mattel
adjusted the mask over Count Berch-
told's face and began to let ether drip
on it from bottle. The stencil of the
anesthetic made me fafnt and nau-
seated.
breathe deeply and easily, sir"
said Mattel, and continued to repeat
his instructions until a pallor over.
spread the patients face, and the
hand which Mattel raised fell Imply
back upon the table. He continued
to drip the ether, finger on the
patients pulse. Count Berchtold
moaned and began muttering, he
struggled slightly, then lay perfectly
still.
Then Mattel turned to us.
There are three stages of ether
narcosis,' he said softly, in tones such
as one might use in the lecture room.
They are known as the light, middle
and deep narcosis. Practically there
are but two, light and deep. In deep
narcosis, such as that which our pa
t1ent is approaching, there is no re-
Spouse to stimuli, and only the heart
and breathing centers remain unaf-
fected. This stage is a dangerous
one, and the skillful anesthetist en-
deavors to keep his patient on the
boundary between the two
He let another drop of ether fall on
the mask, and Berchtold, who had
sighed family, became quiescent
again.
I'm the stage of light narcosis,"
continued Mattel. though the patient
remains unconscious, so far as the
cerebral functioning is concerned, he
is in an extremely agitated condition.
He struggles, he filings his limbs
about. he makes spasmodic efforts to
get off the operating table. It is as
though the higher centers are in abey-
ance and the bodily instinct of self
preservation takes command. In this
stage he answers all questions freely,
he can no longer make the mind re-
tain it's secrets. He"
Count Berchtold half sat up,
moaned, and began buttoning an i'm
aginary overcoat.
BE patient, SIR" said Mattel to him.
There is no hurry, is there?"
Yes, I have to get to Vienna"
muttered the unconscious man. &"
He fell back, opened his eyes, and
stared wildly about him. Mattel deft-
ly dropped some more ether upon the
mask and replaced it on the face.
"Why do you have to get to vi
enna?" he asked.
The count breathed deeply. Mat
tel repeated his question. Berchtold
mumbled something, and we drew
nearer.
why do you have to go to Vienna
with Herman Thyssen and Won Gwin-
ner?'' asked the doctor.
Because we want to be in time to
attend my little daughters birthday
party" mumbled Count Berchthold,
relapsing into unconsciousness as Mat
tel pressed down the mask.
We stared at each other. Then:
rs that true?"
absolutely" replied Doctor Mattel.
We'll, gentlemen, although our ap-