The dangers of chloroform and the safety and efficiency of ether, as an agent in securing the aviodance of pain in surgical operations : with a description of an ether inhaler and the mode of administration / by J. Morgan.

  • Morgan John, 1820-1891.
Date:
1872
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The dangers of chloroform and the safety and efficiency of ether, as an agent in securing the aviodance of pain in surgical operations : with a description of an ether inhaler and the mode of administration / by J. Morgan. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    form. With small quanti- ties there is no arrest of tlio breathing, although the number and depth of the respiratory efforts are di- minished ; after a short time the respirations be- come slow and full, and next, while their frequency rises, the range of their movements is reduced. Eow it Arrested Life. a few seconds, ceases, and inhalation can again take place ; with smaller quan- tities the inspirations be- come gradually shallower, and for a time retain their natural order, but become less frequent; and after perfect insensibility is produced, the amount of air entering the chest is ex- tremely small. Hoio it Arrested Life. Strong inhalation caused the pulse and respiration to cease nearly simultaneously. In the majority of oases the pulse stopped before the respiration, and the heart's aotinn could be distin- guished for some time after the pulse had ceased. The effects produced in a strong quantity, equalled tho3e of chloroform in a small, but with an impor- tant contrast, that it exerted but a very slight depressing influence on the heart. Death occurred by thefaihire of the respiratory movc- inonts—the heart's pulsa- tions continuing generally for sometime after the re- spiration has ceased. The conclusion formed by the Committee was, that it is desirable to obtain an agent which shall produce the required insensibility, and yet is not so dimgerous in its operation as Chloroform. Ether, to a certain extent, fulfils these conditions : it is less dangerous than chloroform ; but its odour is disagree- able : it is slow in operation, and it gives rise to greater excitement than chloroform. The Committee, therefore, admit the comparatively greater danger of Chloroform, while Ether is objected to, but for the three inconve- niences mentioned. The Committee states that the only apparatus known for Chloroform administration, which fulfils the necessary conditions, is that contrived by Mr. Clover ; but at tlie