Remarks on the alleged fatal case of chloroform-inhalation.

  • Simpson, James Young, 1811-1870.
Date:
[1848]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Remarks on the alleged fatal case of chloroform-inhalation. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

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    *V ts HISTORIC** REMARKS ALLEGED FATAL CASE OF CHLOROFORM- INHALATION. By J. Y. SIMPSON, M.D., PROFESSOR OF MIDWIFERY IN THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH, (From the Lancet ef February 12.) In a paper on Chloroform, written in November last, and pub- lished in the Monthly Journal of Medical Science, I stated my be- lief, that the power which we have with it of bringing down the pulse, &c, shows that if exhibited in too strong a dose, and given uninterruptedly for too great a length of time, it would doubtless produce serious consequences, and even death.—P. 417. Knowing the very great extent to which chloroform has latterly been used, the enormous supplies of it manufactured and sold, the many thousands of persons already submitted to its influence, and the want of caution with which its administration has some- times been conducted, I have felt, and repeatedly expressed surprise, that no fatal disaster should have accompanied its exhibition. At last an alleged fatal case of its employment has been reported, and a Coroner's Jury has returned a verdict of Died from con- gestion of the lungs from the effects of chloroform. The unfortunate patient certainly died when under the influence of chloroform; not, however, as I believe from its effects; but from the effects of the means used to revive her. I think this will be evident from the statement of a few of the particulars elicited at the inquest, and published in the Lancet of Saturday last, and from Mr Meggison's own report of the case in the Medical Times of the same date.