The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1924-05-22
How the Story Grew

Most any OF Us would recognize the
incandescent light as d great convent
ence. Some can remember the DAYS
when lighting WAS done with kero-
sene and few can 20 even further
back than that 10 tho whale oil lamp
and the tallOw candle OF course we
have all heard stories Of illumination
by the open fire and the pine knot.
We are glad 10 be rid Of trimming
wicks, filling lamps and washing
lamp chimneys We also remember
stories about exploding kerosene
lights and are thankful of being re-
lieved OF that menace. We don't oft
en- realize the clement Of safety pro-
yided by an ineandescent light when
it is necessary to handle benzine,
gasoline, ether or other yOluble sub
stances after shutdown.
When about IS years OF age, 7 went
into the George Cushing Drug store
to learn the business. We had the
above mentioned substances and some
others that gave us a good deal Of
worry. IT was safe enough to pour
them from one container to the other
in the day time but if a man wanted
half a pint of benzine in the evening
we did not feel safe until it was in
the bottle and the stopper chucked
in tight.
In the Cushing Drug Store. al the
rear, were a couple of doors that had
ground glass panels in them The
kerosene lamps in the main store
would furnish a little light through
these panels to the back room. When
| had to handle benzne or anything
like it | would go out there and
work by that light In this way I
felt fairly safe and could get along
pretty we'll
The matter was really serious when
surgery had to be performed by arti-
fetal light Ether and choloform.
then as now depended upon for an
aesthetics, are very voluble and their
yapor very inffammable and explosive
OF course a doctor could not cut of
leg in the dark and his only avail
able light. in my boyhood, vas fur
nished by kerosene Ny father. Dr.
Patten. used to worry over this quite
a little. ! think he told me that
ether vapor was heavier than air and
that if he Gould be sure the lamps
were kept we'll above the level OF the
patient and the room fairly we'll ven
tilated. it was safe enough. I have
heard him tell, however, OF operating
by widow and getting his light
from lamps held just outside with the
glass between
When my three daughters were
growing up, | had the experience.
common to most parents I presume,
OF being frequently called upon for
stories. When they We're very young.
any little tale would interest: as they
grew older. it became necessary to
weave a real romance and to deal in
somewhat exciting adventure. other
wise | would become discredited as Il
story teller. or course used 10
put up some tales that made no pre-
tentions OF being true but the ones
they liked best had to be historically
accurate. Among the latter was 4
story based upon my fathers expert
enee in performing surgery by arti-
fetal light. and especially this one
about having the lamps held outside
the window. had not heard this
tale referred To for ten years until
the present winter and then Il came
back to ne i'm round about way.
evidently told by one of my daughters
and repeated by others until il had
some features that I know 7 never
put into it.
In its recent version. it told OF an
occasion when my father found ii nee
essary to amputate a leg, presumably
at or below the knee To avoid the
danger of ether explosion, as this
version of the story ran, he caused 4
hole to be cut in wooden partition
through which the injured member
was thrust By this means, you OBJ
serve. the man could he etherized in
one room. while in the other as many
lamps as We're desired could be kept
around in perfect safety.
| cannot say hui what, in the old
days. such a plan might have been
resorted 10. There would perhaps
he nothing impossible about II. altho
one with critical mind might think
of some difficulties to overcome One
what, in the meantime, To do with the
other leg. Perhaps this particular
subject could keep il cnrled up under
him or il may he. being etherized. he
could hold il up in the air without
discomfort for the necessary time AS
have already said, the procedure
would not he impossible but would
have some elements of mprobablity
am sure | never told the tale that
way. But | like the modern version
better than the original and am in
clined to think, when I refer 10 it
again, ! shall tell il with this new
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