Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-08-04
A TANGLED TALE.
That of the Discovery and Use OF Pure
Chloroform.

Dumas, tho eminent French chem
list, originally separated and identi-
fed the substance about 1881, but as
an anmsthetic it first camo into use
in another form some years later.
The success of ether was no sooner
established, to the wonder and de-
light of tho medical world, and, in
deed, of the public, than enterprising
chemists cast about for other drugs
of like power, and it occurred to
Mr.. Jacob Bell that "chloric ether"
might answer the purpose. DR..
Bieelow seems to have tried it in
America about the same time, but
without success. Mr.. Bell, how
ever, suggested it to Mr. Coote, one
of the surgeons at ST.. Bartholo-
news, and he induced his colleague,
the great Lawrence, to try it.
So the first operation took place
under chloroform, but the substance
used was ohloric ether, otherwise
known as spirits of chloroform-that
is to say, a mixture of chloroform
and alcohol. 1t did not occur to any
of those concerned that the alcohol
had nothing to do with the effect
produced. That discovery was re-
served for another chemist, Mr..
Waldo, who carried the news of
what had been done in London to
Sir James Simpson at Edinburgh and
suggested to him the use of pure
chloroform. Simpson was engross-
ed with anesthetics at the time and
had some Of the now drug prepared
for himself; but, according to the &C
count of an eyewitness, he only
came to use it by sort of accident
He was then constantly experiment
ing on the production of anesthcsia
by all sorts of agents with the help
of his pupils, Keith and Matthews
Duncan, both destined to become
famous men. They used to meet of
an evening and test the various
drugs on themselves by inhaling the
vapor from tumbler.
Ono evening some one produced
small bottle of heavy liquid from
under some lumber, and they pro-
ceeded to put it to the test with all
the recklessness of scientific enthu-
siasm. That night the learned con-
clave became a scene of the widest
intoXication. Each member of the
party was found PROSTATE and in
sensible upon the floor or staggering
helplessly about the room, con-
vincing proof of the efficacy OF the
new agent 1t was chloroform, and
Simpson lost no time in applying it
in his practice, whence its fame
spread far and wide The story is
sure to be denied by somebody, but
whether true or not it is good one
and probably not far from the truth.
A legend has grown up and obtain
cd general currency that Simpson
not only discovered chloroform, but
invented an9sthesia.
As matter of fact, he did nei-
Their, but none the less his name de-
serves to be commemorated in con-
nection with both. His high posi-
ton in the profession, his ardor in
research, boldness in practice and
adroitness in advocacy all combined
TO render invaluable service in es-
tablishing the use of anesthetics,
which, like all innovations, met
with much opposition.
1t is amusing to read the objec-
tions that used to be brought against
them in the early days. Ono was
that they were sinful and contrary
to divine ordinance. Simpson in
gonuously disposed of this fantastic
scruple by pointing out that the first
operation on record took place IN
der annsthosia divinely induced
when a deep sleep was made to fall
upon Adam in order that his rib
might be taken to form Eye.-Lon-
don Standard.