The North-Carolinian., 1856-03-15
An Interesting Physiological. Fact.


!. recent meeting of the Boston Society
of Natural History, the following proceedings
took place showing the effects of choroform
upon the human system:
DIR. c. T. Jackson exhibited phal Of blood
taken from the heart of who died
from the effects of rhIoroform, inhaled at Il >
dentists Office in this city. DR.. Jackson stated
that The blood Of this woman had lost the
property OF coaSuatioa; was of peculiar, dark
cranberry red color, and quite uniformly liquid.
The: ed blood globules in microscopic exam
ination made by DR.. Bacon, were found to be
little shrlnllcn and distorted; the white globul-
also dcformed
At the autopsy, no morbid appearances, of
any kind, discovered in the brain or spinal
chord, the latter Of which particularly
examined in TIE portions which give off the
respiratory nti'fes. :-se sGaags -AeFc O! a rccu-
liar dark red color, and much congested with
blood; but still crcritatn@ on pressure, or when
cut into. No organic disease was found in the
visccra and it was the opinion of all the physl-
clans present chat the deceased came to her
death from the effects of chIorolorm.
Or. Jackson's particular duty in this eXamin-
aton was to tgate the chemical condition
Of the blood. He had ascertaincd that it con-
tanned formic ocid, which readily scparablc
by dstlation of the blood, by the heat of a
chloride of ca lsiun bath
The formic acid separated, had its peculiar
odor and instantly dccomposed Nitrate of
Silver, reducing the silver to its metallic state,
so that large flakes of the metallic were
obtained. The observation chloroform
decomposed hy the blood, with the production
of formc acid, he believed TO be new; and it
must be regarded as an important physiological
fact Of no small practical moment Three
atoms of chlorine leave the tormyle to combine
with the blood, while three atoms Of oxygen
are abstractcd from the blood, to unite with
the iormyle in the production Of formic acid
Thus tae blood is not only deprived OF ITS
oxygen, but it is so altered as to be incapable
of absorbing vital air, and tie patient dies from
asphyXia
Such appears to he the probable theory Of the
cause OF death in this case. 1t becomes us to
inquire whether there is not always partial
decomposition of the blood, effected by the
inhalation Of cllorofornl, from which, in eases
! where it is not carried too far, the system re
covers; while Il more complete change results III
ideath. There is still much to be done in the
chemical and physiological investigation Of this
subject. DR. jackson was of the opinion that
when chorotor,n must be administered it should
be largely diluted with ether; but the latter
agent alone is much safer au1sthctic and
should always be preferred when it can be
obtained; for no death is yet known to have
been produced by its proper administration
Mingled with air; while chloroorm, in spite of
DESTROYED life.
The clloroform inhaled in this case was
found to be perfectly pure
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>~~~>>
/ A HIcHwAyMAS--No Not many years ago, an
Irishman, whose finances did not keep pace
with the demands made his pocket and
whose of honest labor was cmincntlv
unfavorabe to their being legitimately flIca,
borrowed an old pistol one day when poverty
had driven him to extremity, and took highway
convenient wher9 he was likely to find heavy
purse.
a jolly old farmer came jogging along and
! Pat put him down instantly party WHO
possessed those REQUESTS he stood in need of him
self Presenting his pistol, he demanded him ''lc
stand and deliver"
The poor fellow forked over fifty dollars, bnt
! finding Pat somewhat Of grccnhorn, begged o
| FIVE to take him home distance Of half mile
The request was complied with, accompanied
by the most patronizing air. Old Acres and
Roods was Il knowing one Eyeing tie pistol
he asked Pat, if he would sell It,
'Is it to sell the pistol! 5owl, and it's that
same thing I'll be after doing. What will yc
be after giving for it?'
''II give You q FIVE dollar bill for it?'
Done! and done's enough between two
gentlemen. Down with the dust, and here's
the tool for you"
The bargain was made by immediate trans
fer. The moment tie farmer got the weapon
he ordered Pat 10 shell ont, and threatened to
blow his brains out if he refused.
/ Kat looked at hlln Win Il coin!cal 'iecr, ana
buttonns his hritchoons pockets, sung out
i "Blow away, ould boy! deuse take the bit o.
powders in it,
We bclieye.thc old fellow told the last part
of tic story but once, and that was by the
purcst accdent-N. Y. l4Iercury.
1a.- The young incy who wrote the following lines
intends emf CRATE west pro ided the Intrinsic
pathos OF her fails to produce effect the cal
lous hearts Of all who are made familiar with it