New-York tribune., 1882-03-09
THE USE or ANESTHEncs DISCUSSED.

A special meeting of the Medico-Legal Society
was held at No Il West Thiryh ST. last night to dis
cuss DrJ o. JCluson'o recent paper upon Ane-hetics
considered with regard to their MedicoLega Relations
The discussion revealed much difference Of opinion Dr.
Finne believed that the of ehl0roOrn was safe in
the hands II trustworthy physician. Dr. Glrdner re-
cited some experiments which be said proved the i'm
possil,litv of anasthetzDg" person while asleep
Tho Irritation 10 the membrane o. the nosTils
and throat caused his subjects to cough and they there
upon struck cut right aud left and awoke. Professor
Morton the son Of the discover Of ether believed the
choice Of anasthetcs be Of The utmost importance He
gave various figures show that chlorOorm was not
universally used in England and on the Continent,
and stated his belief that there would some day be adopt
ed in New-York the law OF the Massachusetts, Dental
Society by which any using chlOroOrn Il guilty Of
a nisdemeanor. DR.. Morton stated that facts showed
chorofJrm to be eight times as dangerous as ether
Dr George NJ Beard thought that such q law would
be TOO sweeping, cbloroform could be given to
children under five with impunlty Dr. Neal
SAID that he had gwen up the use OF chloroform.
He thought 1t allowable for surgeon TO use ether
for the purpose Of detecting malngering in soldiers
Nj Riddle said that the law recognized the use Of anGs
thetics and that when physicians becpme certain OF
facts in regard their the law would protect them
He stated that evidence procured by the Of anes-
thpties would be inadmissble in court Of law. BE
added that the had anHsthetized President
Garfield in order 70 cut the ball. and he had died. the
surgeons would not be responsible and Gui would be
equally subject 10 punishment unless cOud ne shown
that dealt resulted directly from the auF-thecs and
the wound not mortal DR.. birmingham held that
the question etZBg in sleep not settled
eiihrr way. had poor opinion OF cllorOfurm, but
thought 81 might be possible to produce anesthezaton
by chlOrOfOrm 10 sleep.
TIE PRESIDENT Clark Bell, gave the results Of au inter
national Congress In Paris, where II voted that
an&sthe les should only he administered by ply sican
with diploma ia the pIeseuce of another pas sican or
Trustworthy witness Mr. Miller thou2ht tlat 1t would
have 10 effect IN the consequence to Guiteau the
President had died from the effects Of ancsthecs. He
considered doctor jlsiucd IN cAIOrOfOrm Mr..
briggs thought society should protect Itself by any
means, and 10 therefore justinahle 10 make ex-
aninatOus for obtaining the truth bv anesthetics A
Hun brought up the question whether physicians, In
OF ineurabe disease accompanied by great suffer
ing, were Justified Ia using audsthtucs 10 shorten LIE
He Thought that physicians sIOud give relief this
way the ptinClplo that e Whatever you would have
done unto you, that do Others"
D. c. Calvin spoke Of the responsibility resting upon
the medical profession, and said that II ansth-tc
wa better and safer Than tie other, the duty OF
every physician IT, and any acting contrary to
the opiui0us held by the most lea ned members VI MS
profession incurred heavy responsibility. lie declared
tDa evidence obtained by he Use o. anGshetlcs
admissible IN a court Of law, He said that he heard
with surprise the opinion Of Mr.. HUI, that ply s,lan
should arr0gae himself the power aud PRIV IL ge OF
omupotence II taknE away life, and lie expressed his
slrOng condemnation OF such an act under any crcu-