It's not quite as pleasant this morning as yesterday; had
Dr. Forbush operate on my game jaws, teeth, etc., this forenoon; took ether and
I must say that I have no desire to ever take any more. The doctor tells me my
upper jaw is very badly injured. I suspected it but hoped it might be the
crushed teeth which gave me so much pain; have been sick all the forenoon from
the effects of the ether. When I came out from under its influence I was crying
like a great booby, for just at that time I was living over my illness of
typhoid fever when I was reported dead at Rockville, Md. in the winter of
1862-63, and I thought I was all alone among strangers. It was more real,
though, as I was delirious at Rockville, and don't recall any such genuine
anguish as I was experiencing when I awoke from the effects of ether. To awake
from such hallucinations to the realities of life comparatively well was a
remarkable experience; it dazed me for a moment on coming back to the world,
but I rallied soon on looking at the doctor and Pert and saw them relievedly
smiling at my surprised look and manner. I went to a band concert tonight, and
stayed with Carl Wilson.
SOURCE: Lemuel Abijah Abbott, Personal Recollections
and Civil War Diary, 1864, p. 224
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