An account of a new anaesthetic agent, as a substitute for sulphuric ether in surgery and midwifery / By J.Y. Simpson.

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

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An account of a new anaesthetic agent, as a substitute for sulphuric ether in surgery and midwifery / By J.Y. Simpson. 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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    From A. E. Hosack, M. D. Gentlemen .-—The all exciting subject of the administering of Chloro- form, for preventing pain in surgical operations having engaged your attention in so special a manner, and at the same time from the desire expressed by you to collect facts confirmatory or disproving its utility, I am induced, in compliance with your request, to state to you the result of my observations from the various trials I have made of it. Some time since, I published in the New England Journal of Medicine a few cases of some of the severer operations in surgery, illustrative of the beneficial effects of Ether, and as these agents possess a striking resem- blance to each other in destroying sensibility, I cannot but speak of them comparatively under similar circumstances. Chloroform appears to pos- sess many advantages over Ether. It is more agreeable to the taste, more rapid in its influence, more composing, more durable in its effects, and to my knowledge has never been attended with any ill consequences; besides, a very small quantity is sufficient to produce the desired effect, while on the contrary, Ether is liable to create considerable excitement, is of shorter duration in its influence, and to many is very disagreeable, and even nauseous; and its after effects are sometimes very alarming, and in a few instances have proved fatal. But Chloroform is not entirely free from some of these objections, as it is sometimes quite as exciting as Ether, and the patient equally restless during an operation. This effect, how- ever, is not so frequent as with Ether. They are both more efficacious in young subjects than in old, Chloroform much more so than Ether. In cases of protracted operations, when the renewed influence is re- quired, it is more readily produced by Chloroform than Ether ; and where a continued effect is desirable for a length of time, Chloroform leaves the patient in the same state as before its administration, while Ether is apt to leave considerable headache or temporary delirium; under these cir- cumstances, I would always give preference to Chloroform ; and from the opportunities I have had in its use, I have no hesitation in saying, that I believe it to be perfectly safe when administered by judicious hands. The objection to the Chloroform being inhaled from a sponge or handkerchief, on account of its blistering the lips and face, may be completely obviated by using your inhaler, which is very simple, remarkably neat and cleanly, and in all respects adapted for the purpose. Very respectfully, A. E. HOSACK. Messrs. Rushton, Clark, &. Co. [Note.—Dr. Hosack informs us, that one of the cases operated on by him under the use of Chloroform, was that of removal of half the lower jaw at the articulation, for osteosarcoma. The patient did not experience the least pain, and has perfectly recovered, without the necessity of ano- dyne or medicine of any kind. A short time before. Dr. H. performed a similar but less extensive ope- ration under the influence of Ether, when a portion of the lower jaw em-