Baltimore commercial journal, and Lyford's price-current. [volume] (Baltimore, Md) 1840-1849, 1848-02-05
mCHLOROFORM."


experiments made with the new agent
THE Netc agent for Producing E,rsensbliy to
Pain.-In pursuance of an invitation given by Hugh
Neill, Esq, the Surgeon of the Eye and Ear lntirn-
ary in this town, several gentlemen, eminent IN the
medical profession attended on Tuesday last, at the
Opthamic Institution, to witness operations for
squirting, upon patients while under the influence oil
"chloroorm," a new agent said TO produce complete
Inconsistencies, more easily and more ctclchtly
than sulphuric ether. The new agent IS very pleas
ant 10 the palate, and yields delightful perfume,
not much unlike that of ripe apple or good sherry
wine. Its inhalation produces the most delightful
sensations, and i'll the course Of minute or So state
of the soundeSt somnambuism SulPhuric ether on
the contrary, is very disagrceabc both 10 the palate
and olfactory nerves, and is much longer IN producing
the required result il also produces great nausea
and has not always been administered without acting
for time somewhat inurously upon the ner' Gus
system.
Among the medical gentlemen present at the Opth-
almic Institution, ON TUESDAY, were Dr. Formpy' Dr..
Sutherland, the talented editor of The Health OF
Towns Journal, DR.. lmlach, Mr.. w aide, Mr. IllS.
ginson Mr.. Biggcrstcth, DR.. Hunter Robinson, OF
Birkcnhcad, author Of a pamphlet on the sanitary
state of that township, and many gentlemen connect
ed with the hospitals and dspcnSarics Of Liverpool
Mr. Ncll, previous TO operating upon either OF the
patients, gave short history of the discovery OF
ether agent to produce inscnslbv 10 pam, and
lastly, of chloroiorm, more pleasant and salts
factory substitute. In the course OF his remarks he
noticed curious facts of the chorc ether having been
first used, and recommended to Professor Simpson by
DR.. Formby, and chloroform having been also re-
commended TO the same gentleman by Mr. W aldle,
chemist of the Liverpool Apothccarlcs' Company,
who pointed out to the Professor the advantages to
be derived from its use.
The patients selected on this occasion were tour
young females the only blemish 10 whose round and
handsome faces that they had each rather more
than can interesting cast Of the cyc'-ln tact that
they squinted very badly. The operation whereby
this affection be totally remcdcd is necessarily
painful one, though happily one of very short dura-
ton, it would perhaps be UNDESIRABLE by any per-
acted upon i'll the natural state.
The corotorm was administered IN the three iFst
cases, through the medium Of handkerchief held up
TO the nasal organ and mouth, and as inSensD!llty
produced the patients were operated upon by
Mr. Neil, in the most successful manner; but the
fourth case furnished a triumphant instance OF the
power OF the agent not perhaps that the other
cases would not have been equal TO II II the assist
ants had been used TO their work With the cNpe.
rence furnished by tn IN, the requisites necessary TO
most complete administration OF the chlor0)rh by
means of the sponge, were systematically and nose
lcssy executed, aud the patient was speedily thrown
into state of comp tie Inconsistencies. During the
inhalation of the vap0r through the sp9ng', which OF
allows free passage 10 the atmospheric arr
her countcnancc presented most plcasurablr cX-
preston; did il alter the Least during tn trying
moments of the operation. She renamed IN sound
sumber for several moments afterwards and did not
cvnce the slightest sensation OF iC"Ing when repeat
edly pinchcd by many OF the gentlemen present. In
this case the eye was turned completely inwards,
that greater force with the tOrccpS was required and
state the pain would have been prop1rtionably cX-
crucating Upon waking to consciousness in about
a quarter Of an hour, she said she was not aware
that anything at all had been done TO her The med
zeal gentlemen present thought this case furnished a
most excellent test Of the efficacy Of the agent,
and vote OF thanks was unanimously passed 10 Mr..
NELL by the gentlemen present, for the opportunity
he had afforded them VI witnessing these interesting
experiments.
All the four patients were thus completely cured
of obquity Of vision, and being out-patlentN, were
enabled to walk to their spoctivc homes in an hour
two after the operation had been performed Upon
inquiry, in the course OF the afternoon, Mr. NcllI
found them all in excellent health, and thankful for
the service that had been rendered to them.
Experiments WiM ChOr01mm.-Several important
and most painful operations were performed on lhurs-
day, at the W orkhou>c Hospital by DR.. + ii Brett,
in the presence of the stul, and other gentlemen,
when the agent for producing insensibltly, was
administered with entire success ii the following
The first was the case Of Elizabeth Birch, aged D.
affected for years with inversion Of the cycds Gu
tropon) causing inflammation Of the eye by the con
irritation Of the la,hcs against the globe 1t
was necessary to make perpendicular lnclson al the
other angle of the lids and excise portion Of the
skin of the upper cvclid, to introduce suturc and
partially the lid by means Of ligaure pass
ed through the margin OF III Id tins last being Sc
cured on the forehead by strips Of adhesive plaster
The patient was in state OF perfect inSensblllty
the whole Of the time.
The second was a Of strabsmus
The third a hydroc lie, which, after tapping. was
followed by injection Of the sac, with solution Of
iodine.
The fourth operation was for cataract, which being
of soft nature the drilling method through The cor
nea by means Of delicate needle, was selected the
fluid portion Of the soft entcular body beng freely
exposed to solution in the aqueous humor.
The fifth that Of dividing the tendons be-
hind the kncelont (thc hamStrlngs) IN Doth legs d
Bridget Macklc. The woman had been cripple
for three years, bent double, and cd-ridden- the
legs are straight, and to be kept On sPlIns
for a short time.
The sixth case that Of young woman, named
Elizabeth Fclliwcll, who had been discharged from
the hospital as incurablc, from reco-vagnal c2mrnu-
nication complicated with several tumorS deeply
situated The parts being freely exposed by the
speculum, clean wound was made Of the former
and the morbid growth completely eXtIrPated NO
operation could well be conceived more painful than
this under ordinary circumstances, yet the poor girl
was taken TO her bed in perfect trance, and was
quite unconscious Of any part OF the operation
The seventh case was precisely OF similar nature
in a young woman named Ann Money. She had
been much debilitatcd, but, under remedies 10 i'm
prove her constitutional power, n9urshing diet and
wine, she sufficiently restored in health to IN
dergo the operation The choroform, however, nap
PLY saved her from any knowledge Of the operation
She awoke complaining bitterly that she was not 10
undergo the operation which she had been 50 long
promised was TO relieve her from complaint, the .
most distressing to which a female be subjected,
until she assured that all was over.
The eighth, and last was case OF scroiulous dis
of the kneeoint, in which II was necessary to
remove the limb in a girl, aged years. This
child knew nothing of what going to be done
the chloroform kept her in utter insensiby Of what
was done, and she only awoke to be conscious OF the
absence of limb, the seat of protracted disease,
which had nearly exhausted her vital powers .
Dr. Burgess administered the chl0roIorn, merely .
applying ii on lint to the mouth and nostrIls, whilst
Drs. Gee, Bride, and Mr. j. Ferguson, with their .
usual tact and humanity, rendered every requisite
assistance.
The patients, on coming to, seemed TO be excited
in manner not dssimilar from the effects Of