Monday, April 19, 2010

Sudden Death from Chloroform

A gloom was cast over this community Saturday by the sudden death of Miss MARY SWENY from the use of chloroform. She lived in the family of Dr. Scarf. Having a number of teeth to extract, and fearing she could not endure the pain, she wished to have chloroform administered. In company with Mrs. Dr. Scarff and Dr. Barnett she repaired to the rooms of Drs. Bronson and McCollum Friday. Dr. Barnett administered the chloroform and Dr. Bronson took out ten decayed teeth, leaving five more to be taken out at a future sitting. Saturday morning the same parties repaired to the rooms and Dr. Barnet again administered chloroform. Dr. Bronson had but just commenced removing the other teeth when the young lady was discovered to be sinking and died in a very few minutes. Several Physicians were called in and every effort made to resuscitate her but in vain. The vital spark and taken its departure.

It is proper to say that Dr. Bronson never administers chloroform. Whenever it is done at his rooms it is by the family Physician of the party desiring it, who administers it in person. It is a thing often administered, and serious results rarely flow from it – very rarely.

Miss Sweny was in the full vigor of youth and health. Her death, so sudden so unexpected, occurring in the manner it did, is most distressing – crushing to her friends and relatives.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 3, 1862, p. 1

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