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
“When placed on the operating table the heart’s action was very quick
and weak, but he did not appear more faint or pale than usual. I then
saw Mr. Nalty, the apothecary, measure one drachm of the chloroform in
the small minim glass measure, and pour it upon a little folded lint,
which was placed in an oval hollow sponge, held in the hand with a small
towel. Recollecting I had used this chloroform in another case, and
finding some delay in producing the anæsthetic effects, I directed Mr.
Nalty to add thirty drops more to that already put on the lint. I then
applied the sponge to the patient’s nose, directing him to keep his
mouth shut, and gave the towel into the care of Dr. Halpin, who was on
the opposite side of the table, while I went to prepare myself for the
operation. Mr. Bird had scarcely screwed up the tourniquette, which had
been previously placed on the thigh, while I was examining the state of
the circulation in the tibial arteries, and which could not have
occupied one minute,—certainly the patient could not have taken fifteen
inspirations,—when Dr. Halpin told me the anæsthetic effects were
produced. This struck me as being unusually quick and sudden, and on
removing the towel from the face, we saw a slight convulsive action of
the left eyelid (the eyelids were partially open), and a small quantity
of frothy saliva at the mouth. I felt rather uneasy, but not much
alarmed, as Dr. Halpin said he had often seen such symptoms from the
effects of chloroform, although I had not met with them. On a more
minute examination of the heart, the eyes, muscles of the limbs, &c. we
found him dead.”
Energetic means were used with a view to restore the patient, but
without effect. No inspection of the body took place.
_Case 21._ The next case of recorded death from chloroform occurred in
the Stepney Workhouse. The patient, named John Holden, age not stated,
was about to undergo an operation on the penis. It was stated at the
inquest that half a drachm of chloroform was administered without
effect, and then half a drachm more was applied, when the patient
suddenly expired. This death occurred in April 1851.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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