_Case 49._ This case occurred in the Liverpool Infirmary on April 5, 1857, and is related by Mr. Allan, the resident officer who administered the chloroform. The subject of the case was a labourer, aged 35, on whom Mr. Bickersteth was about to perform amputation of the thigh on account of gangrene following the ligature of the femoral artery. He had inhaled the chloroform six days previously without ill effects, when the femoral artery was tied for popliteal aneurism. On the day of the accident, he was first rendered insensible in the ward by chloroform poured on a piece of lint which was held a short distance from the nose and mouth. Having partially recovered during his removal into the operating theatre, the chloroform was reapplied, and Mr. Allan relates what occurred as follows: “About half a drachm of chloroform was now poured on some lint, which was held to the nostrils, and he then became _fully_ under the influence; respirations _good_; pulse frequent, feeble. The operation was about to be commenced, and I was pouring about twenty minims more chloroform on the lint, (having pronounced the patient to be in a fit state,) so as to be ready to give him some more as occasion required, but had not applied it, when, turning round, I noticed something peculiar in his general appearance, and, on lifting up the eyelid, found the pupil dilated, and the lid did not close over on the removal of the finger; the eyes were slightly turned up. I at once felt for the temporal artery, but there was no pulsation, and none detected at the left wrist; the respirations had almost ceased. The head was lowered, cold water was dashed on the face, and the abdomen struck with the palm of the hand; the finger thrust into the mouth (there was no action of the heart felt); the legs were elevated, and a wet towel was dabbed over the epigastrium. After one or two blows, the respirations became better, and seemed good, and in about two minutes a pulse was felt at the wrist. This continued between two and three minutes, the respiration being good. His pulse then began to fail, and in about a minute more the respirations were less. The tongue was seized with a pair of forceps, and drawn forwards, and artificial respiration tried, and ammonia held to the nostrils; but he was becoming livid in the face, so the Ready Method was at once adopted, and this produced apparently a few _natural_ respirations. But the pulse had gone, and in about two minutes more there was no breathing save artificial. About the time that the pulse stopped, there was a convulsive movement of the muscles of the leg, and a slight clamminess of the skin succeeded. The Ready Method was continued for half an hour, and galvanism tried, but without avail. From the time he was placed on the table to his death, or the cessation of natural respiration, about ten minutes elapsed.”