The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1894-06-29
: THE FIRST TEST.
Doctors Give Chloroform Trial
as an AnBSthetic
Startling Results Obtained from Adminis-
trations OF the Untrieh Drug-Dig-
nified Physicians in Gro
tesque Attitudes

While the discovery of anasthetics in
surgery was made by an American it
is claimed for three different men-yet
the first use of chloroform for the pur-
pose was made by Dr., afterward Sir
James Simpson. Chloroform is still
generally used by English surgeons,
while III this country most surgeons
prefer ether. A recent article in the
Century by Miss Eve Simpson. his
daughter, gives an interesting account
of her fathers experiments In his
resolution to discover some new and
unobjectionable agent to produce in
SenSibility under the surgeons knife
he was bold almost to raShneSs. He
tried every new compound first upon
himself. and then, with few devoted
medical friends, made further tests of
all such as seemed To promise success.
In the year lS41, especially, he had
been working hard, holding. with Prof.
Miller, DIR. Duncan and DIR. Keith, a
sort of anasthetic seance every night
after supper. So many strange, un-
pleasant and more or less dangerous
mixtures were tried by these gentle
men that one of them, Prof Miller.
made it his custom to make a brief
call at breakfast time every morning
in order, as he would say, cheerfully,
to hear If any of the eXperimenters of
the evening before were dead yet.
1t was one evening in November,
after having tried several other sub
stances with little effect, that DR.
Simpson bethought himself of a small
bottle of chloroform which he had
meant to try and which must be some
where about the place. search was
instituted, and it was found under a
heap of waste paper.
1t was tried at once. Immediately a
delightful excitement seized upon the
doctors; their talk became brilliant
mirthful and then positively hilarious
Prof Miller. Mrs. Simpson, and one or
two members of the family who were
present. became much Interested in
listening to the doctors as they expa-
tiated upon the charms, qualities and
agreeable effects of the new fluid.
Prof. Miller relates what ensued:
Suddenly there was talk of
sounds being heard like those of a cot
ton mill, louder and louder-a moment
more, then all was quiet, and then a
crash.
''on awabing, DR. Simpsons first
perception was mental. This is far
stronger and better than ether said
he to himself His second was to note
that he was prostrate on the floor, and
that among the friends about him
there was both confusion and alarm
Hearing a noise. he turned about
and saw DR. Duncan beneath a chair;
his jaw had dropped, his eyes We're
staring. his head was bent half under
him He was quite unconscious. and
was snoring in a most determined and
alarming manner. More noise still
and mucn motion.
Then his eyes overlook DIR. keith's
feet and legs making valorous efforts
to overturn the supper table, or more
probab to annihilate everything that
was on il. | say more probably, for
frequent repetitions of inhalation have
confirmed, in the case of my esteemed
friend, a character for maniacal and
am, strained destructiveness, under
chloroform in the transition stage"
1t is little wonder that Mrs. Simpson
was alarmed. But the daring doctors
were cNtricated from among the legs
of chairs and tables. and soon recov-
cred themselves and were filed with
triumph at the success of their new
ansesthetic. When DIR. Simpson be
his motto Nicto Dolore pain con-
quered), which certainly meant more
and was more honora bly, earned .han
the notices of most poblemen and no
BILE houses.