New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-11-14

DlSGER OF ANAsrHGrIcs.-A committee ap-
pointed by The Boston Society for Medical Improve.
ulent on the alleged dangers which accompany The
inhalation Of sulpLuric ether have recently
published their report showing the superior
safety Of ether, in comparison with chloro-
form. "a IN anps.hetic agent. But in order to
secure the safe inhalation Of ether IL IS indispens'
able 70 pay attention 10 the quality Of the article
usei, to the method Of administration, and TO the
symptoms Of the patient while under its influence.
Il is imporan, TO know, what indeed is familiar 10
medical men, that great deal Of inferior ether is
cold. which cannot easily be distinguished from tho
pure, except by iJs effects. The nieriority may arise
from imperfect corking the presence Of alcohol, sui
phurous acid and volatile OILS Ether Of this charae-
ter is apt to cause atedous and unsatisfactory nhals
ton, and in some cases to iritate the mucous MEM
brane Such acc dents lead 10 a dstrust Of the prac
teal value Of the agent, IL should never be given
from any nhaing apparatus. The best medium for its
administration is a large bell.shaped sponge, or ssdt
towel folded into the form Of a cone. Ether should
be poured proiuscly on the sponge or towel, espe-
cialy at the commencement. So far as safety is con-
cerued, too much ether cannot be used. \ small
quantity timidy poured on produces simply intoxica
ton without sn4sthesia, while large amount,
though causing greater degree of resistance on the
part # the patient is certain 20 effect satisfactory
condition of insensibiity. Ether may be admins
tered to persons of all ages, from the newborn In
FAINT to the octogenaran. It's subsequent effects are
rarely dsagreeable. The nausea which follows It's
use may be prevented or diminished by giving it
upon an empty stomach. Fantness, although rare
event. is occasionally noticed, aud demands the ord-
Dary treatment by stimulants Headache sometimes
remains for few hours, but seldom continues into
the following day The temporary accidents, rs de-
lirium debility and the nou-retuTn OF the use Of tho
mental faculties, which now aud then arise from the
administration of ether, are Of extreme ar,y, and
are probably due TO the peculiar constitution of the
patient. With the precautions above alluded 10, sui
phurc ether, Of all anGsthetic agents. is alone wor.
thy of entire confidence. As proof of this, it lie
stated that for about eight years ether alone had been
used in the civil or hospital practice of Lyons in
France, and during that time, not a single fatal re-
suit had occurred. In Boston, where more ether has
probably been inhaled during the last ID years than
IN any other place in the world, no death has ever
been caused by its use been heard Of in the vieni-
ty though repeated deaths have happened from chic
toform during the same period Nor, after the most
extensive investigation Of tho subject by the Com.
mittee, has case been found which can be regarded
as unquestionably and unayoidaby fatal from the
breathing of pure suphuric ether. IL is admitted,
on the contrary by the staunchest partsans of eho-
reform, that care Oh the part Of the administra-
ton, intrinsic chemical perfection, will insure the
safety of the patient by whom it is inhaled The
advantages of chloroform are exclusively those Of
convenience its dangers are not ayerted by its adj
mixture with snlphuric ether in any proportions;
and hence, in tie opinion of the Committee, the use
of ether in armies, to the extent which its bulk will
permit ought to be obligatory, at least, in moral
point of view.