Birmingham state herald., 1896-02-09
Go to Gafford's for first class single and double teams.
.16-sun& Wcd-tf
First Trial of Chloroform.

While the discovery of anaesthetics in surgery was made by an American-it IS claimed for three different men-yet the first use of chloroform for the purpose was made by Dr.-afterwards Sir-James Simpson. Chloroform is still generally used by English surgeons while in Amer ica most surgeons prefer ether. A recent article in the Century, by Miss Eve Simpson, his daughter, gives an interest ing account of her fathers experiments In his resolution to discover some new and unobjectionab ble agent to produce insensibiity under the surgeons knife, he was bold almost to rashness. He tried every new compound first upon himself, and then, with a few devoted medical friends, made further tests of all such as seemed to promise success In the year 1847 especially he had been work ing hard, holding, with Professor Miller Dr. Duncan and Dr. Keith, sort of an- aesthetic seance every night after sup per. So many strange, unpleasant ana more or less dangerous mixtures were tried by these gentlemen that one or them, Professor Miller, made 1t his cus- tom to make brief call at breakfast time every morning in order, as he would say cheerfully, to hear if any of the ex- periments of the evening before were dead yet. It was one evening Tn NoVem- ber after having tried several other SUD stances with little effect that Dr. Simp-
 
 of chloroform which he had meant to try, and which must be somewhere about the place. A search was instituted and 1t was found under a heap of waste paper. It was tried at once. Immediately de- Iightful excitement seized upon the doc tors; their talk became brilliant, mirth- full. and then positively hilarious. Pro- lessor Miller, Mrs. Simpson and one or two members of the family who were present became much Interested in lis- tening to the doctors as they expatlated upon the charms, qualities and agreeable effects of the new fluid.
 Professor Miller relates what enSued: Suddenly there was a talk of sounds be- ing heard like those of cotton mill louder and lOuder-a moment more, then all was quiet. and then crash! On awaking 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 pros trate on the floor, and that among the friends about him there was both con- fusion and alarm. Hearing a noise he turned about and saw NDr. Duncan be- heath a chair; his jaw had dropped, his eyes were staring. his head was bent half under him. He was quite uncon- scious and was snoring in most de- termined and alarming manner. More noise still and much motion. Then his eyes overlook Dr. Keith'S feet and legs making vigorous efforts to overturn the supper table, or more probably to anni- hilate everything that was on it. l say more probably for frequent repetitions of inhalation have confirmed in the case of my esteemed friend, character for maniacal and urestrained destructive ness, under chloroform in the transition stage" It is a little wonder that Mrs. Simpson was alarmed. But the daring doctors were extricated from among the chairs and tables and soon recovered themselves, and were filled with triumph at the success of their new anaesthetic. When Dr. Simpson became Sir James Simpson he took for his motto. "Victo Dolore" pain conquered), which certain E meant more and was more honorably earned than the notices of most noble men and noble houses