The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-04-03
ETHER AND OHLoROFORM.
The Percentage of Deaths From Ad
minisrsring These Drugs.

The Percentage of Deaths From Ad-
ministsring These Drugs.
Editor Morning Netcs 1 have read
with much interest the account of the
tragical death of Elliot F. Shepard Of New
York city, which is said to have occurred
as a result of ether administered to him,
not by medical students, but by man
whose fame as q surgeon surpasses that Of
any other man IN America. It is indeed
very seldom that such accidents happen,
and for the benefit Of those who may be in-
terested in the subject, and who have teon
preiudiced against ether by reading the ao-
count IF the death of the gentleman men
toned let me say that of the various
anasthetics which ithave SO far been
introduced to the medical profession
only two deserve consideration, they are in
order Of pre- serence-ebher and ohlorofOrm.
Ether being by far the safer Of the two it
should Of course be used 10 the larger pro-
portion Of cases.
10 will doubtless be of interest to know 20
what extent is ether safer than ChlOTOform,
II is estimated that one person in every
10000 die after the effects Of ether, while
one in every 5000 DE after the effects Of
chloroform. These are carefully prepared
statistics and cannot be denied Among
some Of the minor objections to ether by
the advocates Of chlOroform are as follows:
First, that its action is slower. Second,
that il produces nausea and some
times vomiting. Third irritability OF
the respiratory tract. viz: the throat
and bronchial tubes. Fourth that it re-
quires an extra quantity. All these OBJ.
jectons fade into utter insigni6cauce when
brought face to face with the fact that the
number of lives sacrificed by chlorOform are
80 largely in excess to those after the adj
IDiDistratiOD Of ether
1t is true that in certain cases, under GER
tain circumstances chiorOPOrm as an anaes-
thetic is preferable to ether, but in the vast
majority Of conditions the latter named
drug should be administered. The slow
ness of the action of ether is an unfouuded
objection, for, if desired, profound narcosis
"or inconsistencies" can be produced in
ten minutes. Nausea and vomiting
are also objections without value
for il the proper precautions are taken to
prevent the patient from taking into his
stomach milk or solid food for at least
eight hours before the administration of
ether, nausea and vomiting will not be
troublesome. The question OF quantity de-
mands our consideration only in remote
military practice when transportation is
difficult. The vast difference in the death
rate after ether and chlorofOrm is due to
the fact that when ether is given in lethal
doses it pRralyzes the respiratory muscles
which condition is always preceded by pre-
monitory symptoms that will not escape an
acute observer, and cautious surgeon
When natural respiration fails artij-
cial means may be readily eppli,
and life saved by keeping up q sufficient
quantity of air until the effects of the ether
passes away.
On the other hand, if too much chIoro-
form be given it produces not only paralysis
of the respiratory muscles, but heart fail
ure as well, which may take place during
any stage of its administration. 1t Is its
effect upon the heart which renders 1t more
dangerous than ether, and this usually
takes place without any symptoms Of warn
ing whatever, when the heart suddenly
ceases to beat. 1t is we'll also to remember
that In heart failure produced from
the effects OF chloroform there is
little hope of restoration Of
its functions. Taxing in consideration
these facts, concerning two OF the most i'm
portant drugs whioh have ever been discov-
cred and given TO the medical profession for
the relief OF pain and which has rendered
the name of DR.. era wford Long of Athens,
Ca "the discoverer of anRsthetics, - i'm
mortal, it is but just that the public, as
well as the medical and surgical profession,
should be able to discriminate between the
amount of danger attached to each of these
drugs and not allow themselves 20 become
preludiced against ether by reading the &C
count of one death which is said 10 have
been produced by it, while, perhaps, thou
sands Of lives which have been saved by the
same agent remains unmentioned.
JOSEPH j MCEVOY, NJ. d.