The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-12-13 00:00:00

HEALTH AD DISEASE.

INHALATION OP CHLOROFORM. An interesting
paper has just been communicated to the French
Academy of Medicine by Dr. &rand, on the subject of
Dr. Faure's method of administering chloroform. This
method consists in causing that agent to be inhaled by
one nostril only, the other reniaining meanwhile in free
communication wjth atmospheric air. The apparatus
is extremely simple, consisting of a bottle with two
necks or tubulatures, and capable of containing hundred
grammes of water. An india-rubber tube with • taper-
ing end is adapted to one of the necks, and is intended
for insertion into the nostril ; the other neck remains
open, the operator stopping it with his thumb when
necessary. The tube is 17 centimetres in length, and
has • diameter of at least 13 millimetres To use this
apparatus pour about 10 or 12 grammes of chloroform
into the bottle, and having stopped the open tubulatnre
with your thumb, let the patient receive the tube into
his nostril, recommending him to breathe naturally.
There being no communication between the bottle and
the atmosphere, the chloroform does not evaporate, and
the patient is not aware of any unpleasant sensation.
The subject having now acquired the habit of breathing
in that way, the operator gradually slackens the pressure
of his thumb, and allows a little air to enter, by which
means the patient inhales atmospheric air charged with
a little chloroform. From that moment, according as
the painful sensation increases or diminishes, the outer
air is alternately admitted or excluded, until the thumb
being entirely withdrawn, the patient receives the full
quantity required. The operation may aim be conducted
thus :—Let the patient breathe through the empty
bottle, and Own introduce a drop of chloroform, then
another, and so on gradually. The great joint is not to
allow the effluvia of chloroform suddenly to exercise too
irritating an influence upon the respiratory organs.
After the smxind or third uiinute the operator should
shake the bottle, so as to project the liquor on its sides,
by which the evaporating surface is considerably in-
creased. Should the patient happen to open his mouth
the operator must close it with his hand. Bythis process
the patient feels no pain, no sensation of suffocation or
dyspncea, nor is there any congestion to the brain. The
state of anzthesia may be contieued with the greatest
ease, and without danger, by keeping the tube ready to
he again intrishiced into the nostril, if necessary ; nor
is there any poseibilit, of sudden asphyxia, as the effects
of the agent develope themselves very gradually.
ACCI ATI...V.—A supplement of Tuesday's Ca:elle
was published containing an order issued by the Lords
of the l'rivy Council, prescribing regulations to be
adopted in regard to vaccination. To secure the effi-
cient performanee of vaccination by persons with whom
contractu are made no person is in future to be ad-
mitted as a contractor or deputy of contractors for
vaccination unless lie shall Toeless the same qualifica-
tions as are required for • district medical officer. In•
structions are given to vaccinators under contract.
They are only to vaccinate subjects who are in good
health unless there be immediate danger of smallpox.
Certain precautions are also to be adopted in regard to
the lymph to be used ; and certain signs are noticed to
denote when the vaccinations has been successfully per-
formed. After a notification of the qualities required
for public vaccinators a list of places is given where
vaccination ia to be performed, and also of the names of
public vaccinators, who are authorised to give certifi•
rates of proficiency in vaccination.
PREMATCRIC SMORING.—The Mayor of Douai, in •
circular to the coiumunal schoolimuiters, expresses his
determination to put down the precocious habit of
snioking which he learns, by the report of the police,
prevails to a deplorable extent among the boys of that
city. He therefore desires the schoolmasters, not only
to mark down for punishment all children whom they
may see smoking in the streets, but to search the pockets
and portfolios of the scholars from time to time, and to
take away all cigars, cigarettes, pipes, and tobacco
which may be found. He authorises the 1004 severe
punishments, and will sanction any measure which the
laboolmaaters may devise to @book the growing evil.