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
_Case 22_ is important, as having given rise to a prosecution. The
medical man, an officier de santé, named Kobelt, was accused of
homicide, by imprudence, want of precautions, &c. The chloroform was
administered on a handkerchief, and the accident occurred as suddenly as
any of the others. The husband of the patient stated that the whole
process did not last a minute. “I observed attentively,” he said,
“during this time, and the character that her countenance took all at
once made me apprehensive. I spoke of it to the operator, who
tranquillized me, and continued to extract the teeth. After the third
tooth, however, he partook of my apprehension, suspended the operation,
and proceeded to adopt measures indicated by the circumstances.”
Professor Sédillot, who had to pronounce an opinion on the case, after
hearing all the evidence, said, “I do not think that M. Kobelt is guilty
of imprudence or of rashness, because that officier de santé has
followed a practice very habitually employed, and even recommended, by
eminent practitioners, whose example and authority were sufficient to
inspire him with security, and shade him from reproach.” The accused
practitioner was acquitted. The above remark of Sédillot applied to the
plan of causing insensibility very rapidly, as first recommended by Dr.
Simpson; and he added some observations, to the effect that, when used
in a different manner, chloroform is free from danger.
The above case occurred at Strasbourg, on June 10th, 1851. The name of
the patient was Madame Simon, and her age thirty-six. After death the
lungs were found to be somewhat congested, and emphysematous. Heart
flaccid, of middle size; right cavities filled with liquid dark-coloured
blood, mixed with some fibrinous clots. The left cavities contained
similar blood in much smaller quantity.[89]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account