_Case 48_ is related by Mr. Paget as follows. “I am anxious to place before the profession, at the earliest opportunity, a narrative of a case in which chloroform proved fatal in my private practice. “The patient was a boy, nine years old, of delicate constitution, and of nervous, timid disposition; but with no indication of any organic disease, except that for which the operation was to be performed: namely, a tumour of the scapula; for which it was proposed to remove the greater part of that bone. “At half-past eight A.M., on February 28th, after the patient had passed a night of sound sleep, the chloroform was first administered in a room adjoining that in which the operation was to be performed. He was alarmed at the thought of being put to sleep, and of what would then be done, and was very averse from taking chloroform, but he was persuaded to inhale it; and, though not without resistance, yet with less than is commonly made by patients of the same age, he was brought under its full influence in about three minutes. He sat in bed during the first few inspirations, and after these, was recumbent. It was observed that two or three deep inhalations were quickly followed by complete insensibility; and the next few inspirations were stertorous. He was at once carried, in the horizontal posture, into the room, and laid on the table, arranged for the operation. “Three or four minutes passed while we were arranging his position and his dress, and while I was pointing out to those who were to assist me the proposed plan of operation. During this time the influence of the chloroform so far passed off, that he became sensible, displaced his coverings and pillows, said something expressive of discomfort, and vomited a small quantity of frothy fluid. (He had taken no food since the previous night, when he had had a good supper.) A very small quantity more of chloroform was slowly inhaled, and he became again nearly quiet, and was again placed on his side. I was on the point of commencing the operation, but as he again, by movements, indicated some degree of sensibility, and changed his posture, about forty drops more of chloroform were poured on cotton wool, inclosed in a fold of lint,—an inhaler, with the chloroform on sponge, having been previously used. The lint was held, about half an inch from the face, by Mr. Thomas Smith, my usual assistant in operations. The patient inhaled lightly for a few times, then made one long inspiration, and appeared to pass at once into deep sleep. Except that he thus appeared to come suddenly under the full influence of chloroform, no external change was visible; but, a few seconds later, his pulse, which had been carefully watched, and had been to this time normal, suddenly began to beat very quickly; then it ceased for two or three seconds; then beat rapidly several times, with a kind of flickering movement; and then ceased to be perceptible.