The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1848-09-28
WHOLE NUMBER 365.
CilI.OROE'URM.

CilLOROFUkM.
By n D. MrssEy, n. D., PROF. or srga AT CIV. o.
10 he Editor ofMc Boston Medical aud Surgical
Journal:
DEAR SIR: Some time since, sent you
n short communication, expressing tnvor-
able opinion OF chOroiurm m MI nnEsthet-
&c agent in surgical operations. ] now
write to saw, that n more extended expert
ence with this article has served TO confirm
the good opinion Of il then entertained.
] have performed JJiy-nine operations
upon patients under its influence, and there
has not been single instance in which it
has left unpleasant effects. still prefer
il 10 ether, ON account Of the smalncss Of
the quantity required, the greater certain
~ Of its making the requisite impression,
the greater cxpedtiousness Of ito opera
ton, the less irritation j, gives to the CLOTHS,
its inferior liability TO ngitate the voluntary
muscles, and the moro speedy eyancscence
Of its influence after the patient has ceased
10 inhale il.
In oil the cnses the operations have bccn
attended with rery little or no pain; often
sometimes a full consciousness OF what was
going on, wiihou, the sensation Of pain.
Within the present week, amputatcd tho
thigh Of a muchvnlucd clergyman for an
extensive liberation Of the knee. joint
lie was much reduced in flesh aud strength,
and his nervous sensibiIity was 50 great
that he contemplated the operation with
the deepest horror. lie was put under the
influence Of the chIoroform while the limb
was removed and tho wound dressed
When no awoke and found that the opera
,ion was over, he claspcd his hands and
give thanks to God for having bestowed q
boon Of such priceless value upon the sGf.
fering family Of man.
Yesterday ! operated upon tcashstct fof
strangulstcd hernia. Tho strsngulstiou
had existed 4S hours; the tenderness Of tho
abdomen, tho persevering vomiting Of
Ercal matter, small and frequent pulse,
great resilessncss, and proslratioh conses
quent upon free bloodlct,ing, the tobacco
glyster, md the other means which had
been employed for relief before my arrival,
offered an uncertain prospect fnr ultimate
success. The chloroform was given, aud
its influence kept up through the ope.stion.
The IMAM appeared to have got into difficult
~ with bis horses, spoko roughly to them
and talked incohcrenily during thu whole
time occupied in tho operation. After he
had reused up a little. asked him il NO
had hurt him? he said 'no, except little
when YOU tried to pull me of tic potato
cart This morning be was better; slept
good deal through the night. aud cousid-
cradle hope Is entertained of his recovery.
In two cases Of Iithotomy, have opers-
tel while the patients were kept siill With
the chloroform. Neither Of them fell pain.
One, a boy Of 8 years. the other boy Of
II. The litter. sensitive and obstinate,
was brought and confined upon tho opera
ting table only by force. When every
thing was in readiness Cor giving the chic
roform, he requested that would not be-
gin to cut till he ras asleep. After no bad
made few Inspirations, observing his eye-
lids dropping, | asked him il he wcre
sleepy; he said yes, bat don't cut till 4 am
asleep. In few moments his cyos were
closed, and the muscles Of Iris limbs were
soft. ! then proceeded to the operation,
extracted the stone, and was about to unto
him, when he opened his eyes. and said,
sdocior, don't bcgin to cut till I get to
sleep"
When administered to patients in tho
horizontal position with m empty stomach,
and introduced gradually into the lungs,
the safety ii this agent need no. 10 ques-
toned. There is dose Of arsenic or OPT
um that can kill patient, and a, The ssns
time another dose that il entirely safe; il
is 50, believe, with cttoroform; and can
not help regarding it a. one Of the most
important gifts for the relief Of human suf.
ierinR, that kind Providence has sent ~
in this or any other age.
Cincinnati, July 5, lS4S.