On chloroform and other anæsthetics: their action and administrationSnow, John
History
On chloroform and other anæsthetics: their action and administration
Snow, John
Anesthetics; Chloroform; Snow, John, 1813-1858
_Experiment 24._ A cat, about the same size as the last, was put into
the same jar, and the same quantity of chloroform was introduced. It was
removed at the end of four minutes, when it was so far insensible as to
offer no resistance. Being laid on the table, it was made to breathe air
charged with ten per cent. of vapour of chloroform from a bladder.
Twenty-five minims of chloroform were put into the bladder, which held
250 cubic inches, and it was filled up with the bellows. A portion of
another bladder which was attached to the stop-cock, was made to
surround the head of the cat, which consequently breathed to and from
the bladder. In half a minute it was quite insensible: in about half a
minute more the breathing became difficult, and the sounds of the heart
less distinct. The breathing became gradually slower, and ceased
altogether between three and four minutes after the respiration from the
bladder commenced. The sounds of the heart were rather frequent, and
scarcely audible, just before the breathing ceased, and they could not
be heard afterwards. The chest was opened three-quarters of an hour
after death. The lungs were of a pale red colour, everywhere permeated
with air; and a small quantity of fluid blood flowed from them on making
an incision. The right cavities of the heart were quite full of blood,
and the left cavities contained a small quantity.
_Experiment 25._ A cat was made insensible in the same manner as the two
previous ones. As it made strong efforts to get out of the jar, and
consequently breathed more deeply, the chloroform took effect sooner;
and it was removed and laid on the table, in a passive state, at the end
of two minutes and a half. The respiration and sounds of the heart were
quite natural. The nose of the animal was placed in the mouth of a metal
vessel, lined with bibulous paper, and used as a chloroform inhaler. The
inhaler contained chloroform, and was surrounded with water of the
temperature of 110° Fahr. The stethoscope was kept applied to the chest
whilst the chloroform was exhibited. After four or five inspirations
from the inhaler, the heart suddenly ceased to beat, the breathing still
going on. The inhaler was removed as soon as I was satisfied that the
action of the heart had ceased, and there were two or three rather
convulsive respirations afterwards, and then the breathing stopped; but,
between one and two minutes later, there were two or three feeble
inspirations, accompanied with motion of the nostrils, but no returning
action of the heart could be heard. The chest was opened ten minutes
after death. The lungs were quite pale throughout. There was a little
clear serum in the pericardium. The heart appeared quite motionless when
first observed; but, after exposure to the air for a short time, there
were some slight contractions of a few fibres of the right ventricle.
The right auricle and ventricle were filled with blood.
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