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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    Ether, on tlie other hand, which has stood the test since 1846, has been the American favourite, and so far from any timidity or hesitation accompa- nying its use, such is the confidence reposed in it, that it is stated by the very most recent authority on Surgical Practice (a), that a patient cannot be too rapidly etherized, and there is no danger, as in the case of Chloroform, from the vapour being too concen- trated. Yet, notwithstanding the extra care engendered by timidity on the one hand, and the boldness engen- dered by confidence on the otlier, the resirlt of statistical information is remarkable, and is well calculated to call into question the tendency to con- servatism which we incline to, professionally, as well as nationally, in so persisting in the use of Chloro- form, notwithstanding its obvious danger. It is a startling fact to find that by the latest statistics of both Great Britain and America,—taking only the deaths directly accredited to the use of anesthetics—it is proved that Chloroform is eight times more dangerous than Ether, and is the most dangerous of all the anaesthetics in use (h). Such being the ascertained ratio from published (a) Asshurst, November, 1871. (b) One deatli a week, is said to be the average in tliiB countiy.