Sentence:  This coach was an exceedingly narrow one, but as there was a slight spherical excess over two on a seat, the driver waited till nine passengers had got in, without taking the measure of any of them, and then shut the door after two or three <WSD>ineffectual</WSD> slams, as if the fault were all in the hinges or the latch,—while we timed our inspirations and expirations so as to assist him. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  Unable or insufficient to produce effect.