STOVAINE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7038, 28 January 1910, Page 5

STOVAINE

INTERESTING OPERATION. r-BEBS ASSOCIATION. AUCKLAIND, January 27. . An operation of a, hifrhly interestim? nature 'was performed 'at the Northern Waifoa Hospital on Monday tinder (so far as is known) the iir3t application in Now Zealand: of the new anaesthetic "stovaine." The patient vae deemed an improper subject for chloroform. Br. Marchesini informed him of this, and explained fully the operation and effects of stovaine, and he agreed to undergo th« treatment. The stovaine was injected, and in five minutes the sufferer was ready to be operated on. The operation, which lasted one nour. .was highly successful. The patient retaaned full consciousness all the time, but was absolutely free of pain. In an interview a few hours after the operation he said he had felt nothing durinr, the operation, and in fact believed he could have walked off tho table into t>od had he been allowed. Though stovaine is new to New Zealand, Dr Marchcsini has used it as lons ago as 1905. Last year in Borne ho used it frequently. Tho application is effected with a needle enclosed in a fine tube five inches lons. This is thrust into the spinal column, with hardly any pam. The needle is then withdrawn and the stovaine injected through the tube with a syringe. It acts on the nerves, and completely deprives all the narts of sensation, the patient remainmar fully conscious, -'t is much safer than chloroform and can lie used in cases where tho latter is impossible owmsr to weakness of the heart. As stovaine is absolutely safe, one doctor can administer it as well as .perform the operation. The effects last for two or three hours, and leave no sickly feeling behind.