197
causing the death of the animal, however, it appeared rather to he a safeguard, preventing the
anæsthetic from being conveyed in too great quantities to the nerve centres.
I n o u r n o t e t o o n e o f Dr . Br u n t o n ’ s t e l e g r a ms we r e ma r k e d o n t h e c h a n g e wi n c h h i s
views had undergone. From the report we now publish it will be seen that the discrepancy
b e t w e e n t h e v i e w s o f d i f f e r e n t s c h o o l s a r i s e s f r o m t h e f a c t t h a t s u f f i c i e n t c o n s i d e r a t i o n h a s n o t
been given to the conditions under which the chloroform is given. Although it may paralyse
t h e h e a r t i f a p p l i e d d i r e c t l y t o i t , y e t t h i s c o n d i t i o n d u e s n u t o c c u r i n p r a c t i c e , f o r h e r e i t i s
nei t her appl i ed t o t hat or gan nor yet i t bl own f or ci bl y i nt o t he l ungs . I t i s i nhal ed
by t he pa t i e nt , a nd whe n t hi s i s t he c a s e i t s t ops t he r e s pi r a t i on be f or e t he he a r t . The pr a c t i c a l
out c ome of t he r e s e a r c h woul d a ppe a r t o be t ha t de a t hs f r om c hl or of or m a r e not i ne vi t a bl e .
The y a r e t he r e f or e pr e ve nt a bl e , a nd by due c a r e i n i t s a dmi ni s t r a t i on t he y ma y be wi t h
c e r t a i n t y a v o i d e d . T h e c o n c l u s i o n s o f t h e C o m m i s s i o n a r e s w e e p i n g , a n d w i t h o u t a b u n d a n t
evidence cannot be accepted. The must important tracings on which they are founded will be
published in “ T h e L a n c e t ,
” b u t w o u l d b e i m p o s s i b l e t o g i v e t h e m a l l a m o u n t i n g a s t h e y d o
to about six hundred. Fortunately the generosity of the Nizam’s Government has not been
l i mi t ed t o t he appoi nt ment and payment of t he Commi ssi on but by wel l -t i med l i beral i t y i t has
secured t he permanent ut i l i t y of t he work done by i t , for i t has hai l every t raci ng phot ographi -
c a l l y r e p r o d u c e d , a n d w i l l p r e s e n t a c o p y o f t h e c o m p l e t e w o r k t o a l l t h e p r i n c i p a l m e d i c a l
libraries throughout the world. For this generous liberality the thanks of all mankind are due
t o t h e N i z a m a n d t o h i s a n d e n l i g h t e n e d M i n i s t e r , s i r A s m a n J a h , a s w e l l a s t o t h e
ot her member s of hi s Gover nment who have by t hei r co- oper at i on ai ded and f aci l i t at ed t he
work.
THE HYDERABAD CHLOROFORM COMMISSION.
LETTER FROM SURGEON-MAJOR A. DEANE
T O T H E E D I T O R S O F
“ T H E L A N C E T ”
SIRS,— Having followed the proceedings of the
SI RS—Ha vi ng f ol l owe d t he pr oc e e di ngs of t he HHyde r a ba e c hl or of or m c ommi s s i on wi t h muc hmuc h i nt e r e s t f r om t he be gi nni ng. 1 t r us t you wi l l a l l ow t i l e s pa c e t o dr a w a t t e nt i on t o wha t , i r
i t s d i c t a h e a c c e p t e d i n t h e i r e n t i r e t y , mu s t h e a n i mp o r t a n t o u t c o me o f i t s c o n c l u s i o n s . i n t e r e s t f r o m t h e . i t r u s t y o u wi l l a l l o w me s p a c e t o d r a q w a t t e n t i o n t o wh a t , i f i t i s d i c t a b e a c c e p t e d i n t h e i r e n t i r e l y , mu s t b e o n i mp o r t a n t o u t c o me o f i t i s c o n c l u s i o n s .
The final conclusion of the Commission is that chloroform may be administered in any case
with case and absolute safety (the italics are mine) if its directions for administration be adhered
to. With this conclusion I entirely disagree, as I know from my own personal experience that
people do exist who cannot tolerate chloroform as an anæsthetic, no matter how it is adminis
-
tered, and yet, unfortunately, we cannot detect anything abnormal about them until it is being
given when either death or a condition very analogous to it ensues. I will relate the history of
two such cases later on. Now, suppose a death were to occur from chloroform after the pro
- [*The conclusion of the commission is that chloroform may be administered in any case which fit for an operation.]
[ T h e c o n c l u s i o n o f t h e c o m m i s s i o n i s t h a t c h l o r o f o r m m a y b e a d m i n i s t e r e d i n a n y c a s e whi c h
is fit for an operation