There seems little doubt that Waldie was the first to suggest the use of chloroform, as an anæsthetic, to Professor Simpson, who at once resolved to try it by experimenting on himself and his assistants. He made the first experiment in his own house on November 4th, 1847, and in a letter written to Waldie thus describes the event: “I am sure you will be delighted to see part of the good results of our hasty conversation. I had the chloroform for several days in the house before trying it, as, after seeing it such a heavy, unvolatile-like liquid, I despaired of it, and went on dreaming about others. The first night we took it, Dr. Duncan, Dr. Keith and I all tried it simultaneously, and were all ‘under the table’ in a minute or two.” Professor Miller, who was a neighbour of Simpson’s, used to come every morning to see if the experimenters had survived! He describes how, “after a weary day’s labour, Simpson and his assistants sat down and inhaled various drugs out of tumblers, as was their custom. Chloroform was searched for and found beneath a heap of waste paper, and with each tumbler newly charged the inhalers resumed their occupation. . . . A moment more, then all was quiet; then a crash. On awakening, Simpson’s first perception was mental. ‘This is far stronger and better than ether,’ said he to himself. His second was to note that he was prostrate on the floor, and that among the friends about him there was both confusion and alarm. Of his assistants, Dr. Duncan he saw snoring heavily, and Dr. Keith kicking violently at the table above him. They made several more trials of it on that eventful evening, and were so satisfied with the results that the festivities did not terminate until a late hour.” [Sidenote: Simpson achieves success] On November 10th, 1847, Simpson communicated his discovery to the Medico-Chirurgical Society of Edinburgh, in a paper entitled, “Notice of a new anæsthetic agent as a substitute for sulphuric ether.” A day or two afterwards an arrangement was made with Simpson to administer the new anæsthetic to a patient who was about to be operated upon, but, owing to some cause, he was unable to be present. The operation went on without him, and the patient died on the first incision of the knife. Simpson’s absence was providential indeed, for it saved the reputation of chloroform at the outset. On November 15th, chloroform was used for the first time in a surgical operation in the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. Three patients were operated on successfully under its influence. One, who was a soldier, was so delighted with the effect that, on awaking after the operation, he is said to have seized the sponge with which administration had been made, and, thrusting it into his mouth, again resumed inhalation more vigorously than before.