The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1889-06-07
SIMPSONS DISCOVERY.

AftHt
New the An@sthetlc Properties Of CA---
rosorm Were Bronghtto Light.
The name Of Doctor afterwards Slr)
James Young Simpson became closely
identified with the study Of an@sthe-
tics. He approached the subject with
d due sense Of It's importance, and APP
piled to it scientific skill OF the first
order. Several deaths occurred through
the careless and indiscriminate use OF
ether, causing that agent to be re-
garded with diminished favor. A less
dangerous but equally effective sub
stance was called for, and to the dis
covery Of this DR.. Simpson devoted his
best energies. In his researches he was
assisted by several able professors, and
for time they gave a large share OF
their attention to the matter. Any
volatile SUBSTANCE in which anmsthetio
properties were suspected was care
fully examined. and 1t was not long
before the experiments brought forth
the coveted reward. One night DIR.
Simpson and his assistants we're sitting
up late. bent on their self-imposed task.
A number OF chemical fluids had been
selected for experiment, each man pro-
viding himself with a glass. into which
small quantity Of the particular sub
stance engaging attention was poured,
the glass being placed over warm water
to help the evolution Of vapor. In
this way. with their mouths and nos
trils held over the vessels they tested
one vapor after another, but ii seemed
as il the spirit OF inconsistencies
was not to be evoked. They tried
many gases aud liquids which no one
had ever thoughto Of testing in this con-
nection before, and at last d small bot
tie OF dark liquid which provoked no
great expectations. and was only known
as a chemical curiosity In the labora-
tory, was raked up out OF some OBJ
scure corner and put to take its turn
with the rest This was little bottle
OF chloroform. Presently, after more
promising substances had failed them.
ii was resolved to submit 1t to the test.
A small portion OF the liquid was
poured into each glass and the ex-
perimenters began their inhalations.
Prof. Miller, one Of the assistants, has
described what took place. An un-
wonted hilarity seized the party; they
became bright-eyed and very happy
and conyersed with such intelligence
as more than usually charmed other
listeners who were not taking part IN
the proceedings. But suddenly there
was a talk Of sounds being heard like
those Of cotton mill, louder and
louder; moment more, then all was
quiet. and then-a crash! Onawaking,
DIR. Simpsons first perception wa'
mentaB This is far stronger and
better than ether,n he said to himself.
He next observed that he was pros
trate on the floor. and that his friends
were confused and alarmed. Hearing
noise, he turned round ana saw hi
assistant, DIR. Duncan beneath chair
his jaw dropped. mis- eyes staring, ant
his head hall bent under him; quit
unconscious, and snoring in deter
mined and alarming manner. Mor'
noise followed and much commotion
and then his eyes overlook DR.. Keith''
feet and legs making various effort
to oyerturn the table, or more proba
bly, to annihilate every thing that wa
upon 1t. ALI speedily regasned thei
senses. and from the middle Of tina
night dates the discovery Of the anaa
thetic uses Of chloroform. - Londol
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