The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1896-08-27

rhna Of the Discovery and Uas % Pmra
chioroform-
Dumas, the eminent French chem
ist, originally separated and identi-
fed the substance about 1891, but as
an anRsthstio it first came 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 q
Mr.. Jacob Bell that "chloric ether"
might answer the purpose. DR..
Bigelow seems TO have tried IL In
America about the same time, but
without success. Mr.. Bell, how
ever. suggested il to Mr.. Coote, one
of the surgeons at St. Bartholo-
news. and he induced his colleague
the great Lawrence. TO try IL.
So the first operation took plaos
under ohloroform, but the substance
used was ohlorio ether, otherwise
known as spirits of ohloroform-thAt
Is TO say. n mixture of chloroform
and alcohol. Il 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, a Mr..
Wnldie, 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
ohlorofUrm. Simpson was engross-
ed with anesthetios &C the time and
had some of the new drug prepared
for himself; but according to the GO
count of an eyewitness, no only
came to use il by a sort of accident
He was then constantly experiment
ing on the production of anesthesia
by all sorts of agents with the help
Of his pupils. Keith and Matthews
Duncan. both destined 70 become
famous men. They used to meet Of
an evening and test the various
drugs on themselves by inhaling the
vapor from a 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 enthr.
siasm. That night the learned con.
clave became a scene Of the widest
intoxication. Each member Of the
party was found prostrate and in.
sensible upon the floor or staggering
helplessly about the room, a con.
vincing proof of tho efficacy of the
new agent It was chloroform, and
; Simpson lost no time in applying II
in his practice. whence its fam,
spread far and wide. Tho story i.
sure to be denied by somebody, bui
whether true or not it Is = good on,
and probably not far from the truth
! A legend has grown mp and obtain
: ed general currency that Simpson
not only discovered ohloroform, bu
invented nnRsthesia-
AS a matter of fact, no did nei
ther. but none the less hts name de
serves to be commemorated in con
! noction with both. His high posi-
ton in the profession, his ardor il
research. holiness in practice anS
: adroitness in advocacy al combine,
, TO render invaluable service in es
; tablishing the use of anRsthetics
which, like all innovations, me
, with much opposition.
II is amusing 10 read the objeo
= tions that used to be broaght agains
b, them in the early days. One wa
= that they were sinful and CONTRARY
g to divine ordinance. Simpson In
genuously disposed of this fantasti
scruple by pointing out that tho frs
: operation on record took place IN
?, der anRsthesia divinely induce
when a deep sleep was made TO IA
upon Adam in order that his ri
might be aiken to form Eve.-Lor
don Standard