National Republican., 1884-04-07
DIR. HowLAND's PAPER
On the New Anesthstic nitrous Oxide
and Oxygen Before the Biologt-a

or the New Anesths,ic Nitrous Oxide
and Oxygen Before the Biological
Society.
DIR. T.. p. Rowland last Saturday evening
read paper and gave q clinic on "The
Effects of Auasthetics on the Animal Or
pnuization," showing the peculiar effects Of
fhe new anesthetic nitrous oxide and oxygen
administered In condensed air chambers
before the Biological society at the National
museum.
The use of anesthetics In performing pain
less dental and surgical operations is one Of
the great beons that science has bestowed
upon mankind. Thousands of lives are
saved and great amount of suffering re-
lieved by their administration. He would only
take into consideration tonight the three
main auRsthetis-chloroform ether, and
nitrous oxide. Volumes have beon written
en- ana sthetics and tho causes that produce
anosthesis, but in the present state of science
it is useless 10 discuss the nature of the pro-
cess by which anesthef substances act upon
the molecular constitution OF the cellular
elements of the nervous tissues. lie could only
say that IL does In some way temporarily
| modify that constitution in such q manner
that certain alterations of function become
apparent. But the direot effect Of the differ
| ent anasthetcs Is matter OF experiment
and practical observation. Chloroform exer-
|
effect The velocity Of the blood current
from thousands Of experiments has been esti.
mated to be retarded one-seventh the normal
rate. About one-third Of the patients have
nausea and vomiting.
When death occurs from its administration
the action of the heart dminishes and some-
times ceases before the diminution OF respira-
tion.
Under the effects of ether there is no special
failure of blood pressure until respiration has
become greatly enfeebled and deranged and
often respiration ceases while the heart con-
tinues for a time its pulsations. Nausea and
vomiting is one OF the disaRreeable effects OF
other as we'll as chloroform. The principal peril
from ether lies on the side of respiration.
There is no means of reaching On accurate
conclusion regarding the number of fatal
cases which have occurred from the admins
tration of chloroform and ether, but 1t has
been variously estimated at one death from
chloroform in from 1900 to $500 cases, and
from ether one death In from 10000 TO $4,000.
Many deaths occur from asphyxia by not
admitting sufficient air with tho vapor to
oxygenate the blood, but DIR. Rowland said
that now we had an anRsthetic nitrous oxide
and oxygen that was not poison like ether
and chIorofor that did not affect the heart
or respiration and was perfectly safe, and
that there was no danger from asphyxia as
the oxygen perfectly arteralizod the
blood. He stated that these gases
had to be administered In condensed
air chamber, and that he proposed to erect q
chamber that he had devised for its admins
tration. With large gasometer in which
these gases were mixed In the proportion o
eighty-h parts Of nitrous oxide and fifteer
parts Of oxygen, and glass jar in which wa
small rubber bag, he illustrated how thes'
gases were administered under pressure. A
the close of his remarks he placed CHECKER
l in an experimental air chamber with gias
8 windows and administered the anRsthetic
!, In ono minute the chicken was asleep an,
l breathing as natural as If it was on its perc
among its feathered companions. DR.. How
: land stated that this same chicken had beeI
I several hours in the chamber, the longest a
any one time being two hours and tei
Q minutes. The pressure in the chambe
was varied from five to ten pound
8 per square inch. After the chicken had re
Q mained in the chamber for several minute
. it was removed, feathers were plucked from
d it without showing any evidence of pain
: and In one minute II had returned to con
n seriousness, and when placed on the top OF tn
chamber quietly seated itself, as II 1t ha
, enjoyed the operation and was ready 70
i another experiment. Members of the SC
y ciety asked number Of questions, and wer
y greatly interested in the paper and clinic.