The Express.
London, England, 1847-11-18 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 18, 1847.

was first &minutely aseertalned by Dumas, the celebrated
French chemist, in 1835, but Soubersin and Liebeg had
previously been engaged in similar investigations, and so
far with seems. These inquiries, however, were golely
directed with a view to the extension of the chemical
ence. "They had (observed Professor Simpson) no idea
that the sublimes to which they called the attention of their
chemical brethren eoeld or would be turned to any practical
purples, or that it possessed any physiologiesl or therapeutic
effects upon the animal economy." To Professor Simpson,
therefore, belongs the honour of discovering its wonderful
sauseathe4e properties, and of having first ventured to apply
it to the reliefof suffering humanity. Its advantages over
ether are so varied and palpable that the latter may be con-
sidered as already superseded. "Itis a dense limped colour-
less liquid, readily evaporating, and pommies an agreeable,
Migrant, fruit-like odour, and • saccharine pleasant
taste." As an inhaled and anaesthetic agent, it possesses
ever sulphuric ether the following advantages : let. A much
less quantity will produce the same effect. 2nd. A more
rapid, complete, and generally more persistent action, with
kW preliminary excitement and tendency to exhilaration
and talking. 3rd. The inhalation is far more agreeable
and pleasant than that of ether. 4th. As a smaller quantity
Is used, the application is less expensive, which be-
muses an important consideration if brought into
general use. 6th. Its perfume is not unpleasant, but the re-
vels, and more evanescent. 6th and 7th. No particular in-
strument or inhaler is necessary; it is quite portable ' • and all
that is required is to diffuse a little of the liquid upon a
hollow-shaped sponge, or even the pocket handkerchief,
and apply the same over the mouth and nostrils, so as to be
fully inhaled." Professor Simpson has, since his discovery,
applied it frequently to obstetric practice, and with entire
success; but it was last week applied for the Ant
time by Protector Miller and Doctor Duncan to surgical
operations. A great concourse of medical men and
students witnessed the result in the Royal Infirmary,
Professor Dumas, of Paris, to whom we have already
reigned, also being present.i These results are so inter-
esting and so important, not only to the medical world, but
to mankind at large, who are destined to experience its
beneficial effects, that we will be excused if we state the
same at length, and as furnished to Professor Simpson from
the notes of Professor Miller and Dr. Duman. The two
first mentioned cases were operated on by Professor Miller,
and the third by Dr. Duncan :
" CAB 6 I.—A boy, four or five years old, with necrosis of
one of the bones of the fore-arm. Could speak nothing but
Gaelic. No means, consequently, of explaining to him
what he was required to do. On holding a handkerchief,
on which some chloroform had been sprinkled, to his face,
he became frightened, and wrestled to be away. He was
held, gently however, by Dr. Simpson, and obliged to in-
hale. After a few inspirations he ceased to cry or move, and
fell into • sound snotmg sleep. A deep incision was now
made down to the diseased bone ; and by the use of the
forceps, nearly the whole of the radius in the state of
sequestrum was extracted. During this operation, and
the subsequent examination of the wound by the finger, not
the slightest evidence of the suffering of pain was given.
He still slept on soundly, and was carried back to his ward
in that state. Half an hour afterwards he was found in
bed, like a child newly awakened from a refreshing sleep,
with a clear merry eye and placid expression of countenance,
wholly unlike what is found to obtain after ordinary ether.
isation. On being questioned by a Gaelic interpreter, who
was found among the students, he stated, that he had newer
felt any pain, and that he felt none now. On being shown
his wounded arm he looked much surprised, but neither
cried nor otherwise expressed the slightest alarm.
" Case II.—A soldier who had an opening in the cheek—
the result of exfoliation of the jaw—was next made to
inhale. At first he showed some signs of moving his hands
too freely; but soon also fell into a state of sleep and
snoring. A free hiciaior, was made across the lower jaw, and
from this the dense adhering integuments were freely
dissected all round, so as to raise the soft parte of the cheek.
The edges of the opening were then made raw, and the whole
line of incision was brought together by several points of
suture. This patient hal previously undergone two minor
operations of a somewhat similar kind ; both of them had
proved unsuccessful, and he bore them very ill, proving
unusually unstea4y, and complaining bitterly of severe
pain. On the present occasion he did not wince or moan
in the slightest degree ; and, on the return of consciousness,
said that he had felt nothing. His first act, when appa-
rently about half-awake, was suddenly to clutch op the
sponge with which the chloroform was used, and re-adjnst
it to his mouth, obviously implying that he had found the
inhalation from it anything but a disagreeable duty. This
case was farther interesting as being one of those operations
in the region of the mouth in which it has been deemed
impossible to use ether—and certainly it would have been
impossible to have performed the operation with any corn-
plicat:d inhaling apparatus applied to the mouth of the
patient."
CASE Ill.—A young man, of about 22 years of age,
having necrosis of the hrst phalanx of the great toe, and
ulceration of the integuments, the consequence of injury.
The ulcerated surface was exceedingly tender to the touch,
so much so, that he winced whenever the finger was brought
near to it ; and the slightest pressure made him cry out.
After the removal of the dressings, which caused same
pain and fretting, the inhalation was commenced, and the
patient almost immediately • became insensible, and lay
perfectly still while the diseased mass was being removed by
amputation of the toe through the middle of the second
phalanx. The inhalation was now stopped. The edges of
the wound were then brought together with three stitches,
and the wound dressed. The patient shortly afterwards
awoke, looked round him, declared his entire and perfect
freedom from all pain and uneasiness during the operation."
The whole quantity of chloroform used in these three
operations did not exceed half an ounce ; and, as Professor
Miller afterwards observed to the students that were pre-
sent, if ether had been used, several ounces of it would have
been requisite to produce the same amount of anauthstk
effect.
The following case occurred also to-day to Mr. Miller In
private practice. The notes of it and the subsequent remark
are in his own words :
" Case IV.—A young lady wished to have a tamer
have
dissected out from beneath the angle of the jaw.
The chloroform was used in small quantity, sprinkled upon
a common operation sponge. In considerably less than a
minute she was sound asleep, sitting in a chair with her eyes
nut, and with her ordinary expression of countenance. The
tumour was extirpated, and a atich inserted, without any
pain having been either shown or felt. Her sensations
throughout, as she subsequently stated, had been of the
most pleasing nature • and her manageableness during the
operation was as perfect as if she had been a wax doll or •
lay figure.
" No sicknees, vomiting, headache salivation, uneasiness
in the chest, in any of the cases. duce or twice a tickling
cough took place in the first breathings."—Edinburgh, Nov.
12.—Edinburgh Mercury.

• Dr. Cbriatiscea who was erateolog the revolt, Worms me that
thle patient was affected ia ball a minute.