Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-10-06
DEATH IN 4 DEN1IST'S CHAIR.


DEATH IN 4 DENTISTS CHAIR.
A coroner's jury has investigated as to
the death of Charles Linscott, VINO died in
a dentists chair. in Boston, while under
the influence of chloroform. The follow
ing is the closing testimony
in the case and the verdict of the jury.
both being important to the public rs well
rs to dentists.
DR.. o. p. Rice was the second witness,
and he testified as follows: Reside in NAL
den; am a practcing physician for ten
years; am Il graduate of Bowdoin Medical
College came to Boston two years ago
practice dentistry in connection with other
practice; have been dentist since 1858
have given chloroiorm, think. more than
500 times. On Saturday afternoon last,
about 4 O'Clock, n young mau came into
my Office and said he had been suffering
from toothache and was going to have one
out; examined his teeth and found one
molar badly decayed; attempted to take
it out, but after three trials broke il, leav-
ing the root exposed; applied mixture OF
ether, chlorotorm and oil OF cloves to quiet
the nerve; and also applied crcosote d-
rectly to the nerve; the pain did not abate
and he requested me to give him some
thing and take out the root and two more
decayed teeth, which he showed me. He
did not specify what | should give him
but acquiesced when l said | would give
him chlorolorm, obtained napkin and
placed upon it from twenty to thirty drops
of chloroiorm and placed it at his mouth
and nose for him to inha!e; noticed in
nearly five minutes after that it did not
houa ,ff.ct o1 : bn Gal
effect in his head and he said no asked
him if he had not been drinking and he
said he mad, and then told him it would
probably take longer to put him under the
influence of the chloroform than if he had
not been drinking; continued giving him
the Chlorotorm Tor ten or fifteen minutes
and saw he was not readily influenced
his pulse did not appear to be affected
lelt his pulse about every minute; | sent
DIR. Brown after an ounce of chloroform
on finding my supply giving out; contin-
ued giving the chloroform upon Dr..
Browns return little previous to this
noticed an inclination to retching, and
procured Il bowl for him to vomt in. As
soon as his arm fell l attempted to oper-
ate on his tooth. but he resisted; then adj
ministered more chlorolorm and extract
ed the broken tooth, land was making trial
upon the second tooth when | noticed he
breathed very heavily dropped the in
struments and put my finger upon his
pulse; found it had suddenly grown slow
and weak, beating not over twenty times
to minute, and in two seconds could not
feel it at ali; he appeared at this time not
to have any color in Ills face. the muscles
OF his jaw relaxed somewhat, and he
breathed three or four times with a sort of
spasmodic jerk. l dashed some cold wat
er and also some water of ammonia upon
his face, head and hands; endeavored to
initiate his lungs by raising his arms over
his head and breathing into his mouth and
pressing the air out of his lungs several
times. Worked over him some fifteen
minutes in this manner; gave him some
brandy, week solution of ammonia, and
about the twenty-fourth part OF grain of
morphine; did not remove him from the
chair, but put it in more reclining po-
sition DR.. Brown went for policeman
and subsequently for a coroner; | grad
uated at Bowdon in 1864, have practced
alopathy ill within two years, and since
have practiced homeopathy. Admins
tered about three quarters of an ounce of
chloroform in all. The patient was never
perfectly chloroformed during the entire
operation. Gave the morphine as an an
tidote; had no direct authority tor it in
books; heard some surgeons in the army
and others speak of it as an antidote for
chloroform; used chloroform because
have never before had any dsagreeable
effects from its use. and have had in ether.
Did not consider chloroform as safe as
ether, but considered it as safe in my own
practice. Before he began to take chloro-
form he asked me if it would be safe for
him and | told him yes | considered him
good subject; he did not seem to have a
large amount of vitality
DIR. G. ii. Gay was the next witness.
He testified that chloroform is allowed
everywhere to be a dangerous agent and
at times suddenly fatal without the least
warning. There is not the least guide OF
indication in any case to tell that it will be
fatal. Ether is always safe.
DIR. r. V. Hodges testified; From the
evidence he had no doubt that the cause
of the death was the use of chloroform;
consider chlorotorm so danearous as an
an@sthetic that it ought never be used
when ether can be obtained. EtherI con,
slider safe. think the first death fl ON
chlorotorm was of healthy young wom-
an who had had only fifteen drops.
would like to emphasize the fact brought
ont In this investigation that the patient
was never thoroughly chloroformed. al.
though he died from its effect, showing it
dangerous character. l have been for
thirteen years 4 surgeon at the Massachu
sets General Hospital, and Dr. Gay has
been there seventeen or eighteen years
DIR. Norton Folsom. superintendent o.
the Massachusetts General Hospital, testi
fled: From experience and observation
have no doubt of the great danger of chic,
otorm rs an anesthetic. and think it never
ought to be- used when ether can
be; should consider il equally
or more dangerous to give il
in dental and minor operations than in