New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-18
CHLOROFORM IN ACCIDENTS.
DIP. WILDER URGES THAT 1T BE KEPT READY
TO OBvIATE AGoNIzING DEATH
To the Editor of The Tribune.


TO OBvIATE ACoNIzING DEATH
To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: In your Issue OF the 18th, under the heading
Roasted to DEATH Is described the following acci-
dent: on Staten Island Saturday night an expo-
sion caused the wreck and burning OF two frame
houses. From there barely escaped a mother
and four children. In the ruins OF the other was
caught a man. who literally roasted 10 death
before the eyes Of hundreds OF spectators Many
were made sick: none can wholly forget the
sight or cease hear his frantic cries for the help
that could not be given. Rescued he could not
have BEEN perhaps without tools ard mechanism
more powerful than available at short notice
in n small place
But though death was inevitable and came upon
him rapidly its attendant horrors might have been
averted. Had there been at hand two ounces Of
chloroform. a handkerchief. any cloth, or soft
hat could have been saturated with IL and pushed
under the victims face. His hands were imprisoned:
but a stick cane umbrella could have kept the
anaesthetc in place even after the flames had driven
his would-be away.
But where the mercfu drug? Among all
who stood horror-strcken, eager yet powerless 10
save had needed the suggestion offered In
The Tribune two years ago. after the railway
wreck az Battle Greek. Mch when a child and
woman were in like roasted to death?
Did 10 .p-pocket contain. In place OF pistol
wEisney flask the vial Of chloroform? Perhaps each
who may have thought OF providing himself
took for granted that somebody else would do II.
Yet foresee how soon he may be one of
only few spectators of such calamity even
be himself the victim.
Consider the following record. On the dates given
We're described in The Tribune instances IN which
chloroforln might have prevented the bodily suffer
ing OF and the scarcely less terrible
mental agony OF witnesses: In 1852. January 49,
Spuyten Duyv. burned Senator Wagner and
others: in 1889. May l. October Il. November 10.
in 1890 January ls March a. In 1891. July 4. July 2S,
August 4 in 1892 May 2 September %. November II;
In 1899. April y. August IS October a. November %.
November SO in 1894 January %. August II. Sep
TENDER H. September u. October IL in 1895. Janu-
AIRY IL.
In commenting the Battle Creek disaster
suggested that metal can of choroform be carried
every railway car and that policemen be sup
piled with II for various purposes specified and more
less obvious. Why not also all fre-engines.
drugstores and lquor-saloons? or course. all drug
gists keep it. but not always in a place and form
I available for emergencies. Let the license Of every
retae. of spirits require the keeping OF a bottle
OF chloroform In plain view. In the present case II
is said that Of four who tried to extricate the
| victim a '1quor-dealer whose place was close
by" In civilized parts of the world such estab-
lishments seldom far off. Let their proprieors
atone for the many woes 10 which they contribute
by furnishing the blessing supremey demanded
under certain conditions euthanasia So TO save
another from fiery torture in this world shall per
chance diminish their own commonly meriied SINH
Two practical points must be borne In mind Tho
other familiar anaesthetic is ether, and some might
less prompt and highly lnfammablc. 80 that II
would only feed the flames. While the va2or OF
Of the skin ana mucous membrane Hence ii should
not be permitted to reach the eyes or lips
THIS capacity for vigorous irritation Of mucous
for certain other purposes named in my
former communication and in brief note
Ht he nostfs OF lighting dog or Cher
' been n il e%a
seT6ed in The TTibnne Of June H. iss under ne
some exaggerstlon two things are certain: First.
ton OF rraincd lions and tigers Second. When the
exhibitor IS attacked the immediate eject Of club
beast and correspondinsly the peril Of the man. az
Is Illustrated whenever the same crude methods
are directed against fighting dogs To be effective.
therefore. these methods almost surely impair the
appearance ana disposition Of very costly piece of
properly ana are by no means easy 70 employ with
Co n}ary 10 ihe man II ~ eNhin2n, are -
tiles link them closely Dul-nrhts, then the Law.
II not the self-intcrcst Of the propr.ctors should
quantities with apparatus for projecting II forciby
as coarse spray. the man attacked should shut
able 10 avoid him. The advantage Of cnoroform
It's effects much less likely 10 cause pcrnanen.
injury. even 10 the eyes. II seems preferable.
ing Near Budapes; about December l. IS9i. party
was attacked at night in the forest by wolves and
believe that II travellers in wof-infested districts
were provided with not only firearms but the
OF projecting stream Of chlOrofOrm. the ncrccst
wolves might be kept at bay
Let me close with the mention OF some other
cases or chlOrOfOrm. For more than
| have at intervals advocated it, employment as 4
lethal agent for condemned animals and criminals
and by inexorabe suicides. As reported January |
IL used by the Mayor OF Detroit for killing |
two superannuatei horses. At Cornell University |
are thus disposed OF panlessly each year about 40
cats. besides many other creatures The commenda- !
BILE sentiments that have led TO the substitution Of
the electric chair for the halter in the State Of
New-York should logically prefer chloroform to /
either Properly administered IL Is one of the
sheet-anchors OF medicine and surgery. In overdose
and persisted In beyond certain limit H. OF all |
known agents. destroys life 'futo. citO 1ucundc g
parvo preto.' III RT &. WILDER. !
Ithaca, ~ Y, Jan. -. 1885,