Year: 1864




occasiVneu uy tile use-Ine apuse--uf vhio-
roform, see by the medical and news
paper press, is exciting considerable atten-
tion in different parts of the United States.


This is as it should be; but that improper
impressions should be promulgated against
the use of so valuable an agent as chloro-
form, by the mal-administration of the ar
ticle, is unjust and ought not to be passed
over in sileuce.


To any one acquainted with the use of
chloroform, it is unnecessary to say that to
a patient whose susceptibility is unknown,
but few drops should be applied, on some
thin fabric, held in concave form near
to the face, and repeated at short in
tervals Gas often as evaporation dis
sipates the fiuid), until it is apparent
that no unpleasant symptoms super
vene, when much increased quantities may
be used with perfect safety, always how
ever, being watchfll that the pulse and res
piratory movements be not diminished too
rapidly or too deeply. And here may say,
that frequently as have used chloroform
in both surgical and medical practice, since
its first Introduction to the profession in the
United States. it has been my habit not to
induce anasthesia very rapidly, unless while
In the progress of an important operation
the patient should so far recover from the
first impression as to require speedy re-
application of the vapor to induce proper
degree Of quietude. But this is not all that
is to be observed to render anesthetic prac-
tice safe at all times. From its sedative ac-
tion or effect cases may occur in which the
inexperienced practitioner may become
alarmed, and believe his patient to be dy-
ing. Now, as this state Of things always
depends upon the diminished action of the
heart, and consequent inadequate supply of
IN ba hrain nf ic
most clearly pointed out; and where death
results am free to say, it is for the want
of the immediate use of the very simple
and ready expedient of quickly laying the
patient down, with head, if possible, lower
than the body, at the same time commenc-
ing uniform rather pouncing operation
upon the chest, which should be continued
until the air cells of the lungs are freed
from the vapor so as to admit supply of
pure atmospheric air, which is all that is
necessary to restore sufficient degree of
vitality to the brain to re-establsh and sus-
tain the action of the heart, with all other
partially suspended vital movements.


How was it with the last Boston case.
The patient was not only Kept in an erect
position, but twas even requested to rise to
her feet and sustained in that posture by
the doctor until she sank to the hoor," be-
fore "she was laid upon the lounge, and
then," says the witness, 'there was rush
of blood to the BRAIN" Now suppose Just
thousand such cases to occur again, would
any one be justified in requesting and as
sisting an effort of the patient Ito stand
up?" And if so, would such movement
not add to whatever of danger was present?
Should any one doubt what would be the
result, let him notice the effect of raising
patient, near fainting from loss of blood, to
his feet. If he does not fall to the floor, it
will be much greater wonder, than that
the lady in question died under the treat
ment she received. But whence the neces-
sity, even if there was no help present to
assist in carrying the patient to the lounge?
If the operators chair couldn not be thrown
back so as to bring the body to horizontal
bearing, or even below this as regards the
head and chest, the floor is always ready
recipient of the feeble in time of desperate
necessity, and upon which the patient may
with little assistance, and without delay, be
placed for all necessary treatment.


"Rush of blood to the brain," ''sprinkled
water" etc. That any one ever witnessed
rush of blood to the brain while the pa
tient was under the deep influence of chlo-
roform, together with the adjuvant debili-
tant of the erect posture, stands well re-
corded on the same page with the 'sprink-
ling with water" to arouse from such q
state of insensibility as would permit all
the limbs to be severed, without the twitch
of muscle or the twinge of nerve. If
this recent death in Boston was the only
case in which life had been lost by keeping
the patient sitting up until nearly dead, it
might be less important to notice the fact
but we well remember Mrs. Simmons, of
Cincinnati, and others, who died sitting in
the operators chair.


Next it might not be amiss to notice the
coroner's report: 1.-THE jury feel compelled,
upon the testimony and opinion of medical
experts, to caution the public against the
use of chloroform, as being a dangerous
anesthetic agent" But has it come to this?
that coroner's jury, upon the evidence of
experts, are to caution the public against the
use of an article of such immense value,
and this, too, in community where it has
never been fairly tested, from the fact that
chloric ether has been used almost exclu-
siyely in Boston. 1t was the misuse of
chloroform, or perhaps rather the misman-
agement OF the case, which should have
been condemned as the cause OF death in
the case of Mrs. Morgan. AS well might
jury of inquest caution the public against
the use of sharp raZors, because an unskill-
full barber, accustomed to dull one, had
cut the throats OF his customers by shaving
with keener-edged instrument, and in
fright permitted death to follow the acci-
dent for want of knowing how to staunch
the hemorrhage. Is question of purely
practical professional science, and ques-
tiOn of such acknowledged Importance to
the human race, to be passed upon by
professional, and consequently incom-
petent tribunal? We trust not.s


Nor should the decision of any single |
case, however carefully investigated, be
made the cause of denunciation of any VAL |
liable article of materia medica, and less so |
where the abuse, as in this case, was not |
the matter of inquest. c3y
Equally wise was the action Of the Pittsburg ju-
x OF inquest referred to in recent article in TIE