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
I have memoranda of 218 cases in which I have given chloroform in
operations for fistula _in ano_. In many of the cases the sinuses were
very numerous and extensive. It is necessary that the patient should be
quite insensible during this operation, to prevent the possibility of
his moving suddenly whilst the bistoury is being used.
_Operations on Ovarian Tumours._ I have notes of three cases in which I
gave chloroform during the removal of an ovarian cyst. The first of
these was in March 1850. Twenty-four pints of liquid were first
evacuated from the tumour. It consisted of four cysts united together,
two of which contained serous fluid of slightly different colour; the
third contained serum tinged with blood, and the fourth and smallest
cyst, a purulent fluid. An incision was made, twelve or fourteen inches
in length, extending from the pubes to midway between the umbilicus and
sternum. Some slender adhesions were removed at one spot. The tumour was
attached by a membranous pedicle, with the left iliac fossa, and the
fundus of the uterus. Needles were passed through the pedicle, and it
was tied in three or four portions, when the tumour was removed. After
the tumour was removed, the patient seemed to breathe entirely by the
ribs, the diaphragm remaining relaxed, and not contracting, whilst the
wound in the abdomen was being closed. Scarcely any blood was lost
during the operation. The patient died of peritonitis early on the
fourth day.
The next case occurred on August 27th, 1850, and is reported in the
_Medico-Chirurgical Transactions_ for 1851. Mr. Duffin was the operator,
and the patient made a favourable recovery.
The third operation was performed on the 31st of January, 1854. The
patient was a spinster, twenty-eight years of age, and the tumour had
not been tapped. It contained about two gallons of clear fluid, and was
removed through an opening in the median line above the umbilicus, about
seven inches in length. There was no depression when the patient awoke
after the operation. She died within three days.
I administered chloroform in two cases where it was intended to remove
an ovarian cyst. In one case the cyst was so adherent to the peritoneum
that it could not be removed; in the other case, there was no cyst, but
some serum in the peritoneal cavity, and a tumour growing from the
fundus of the uterus. This tumour was allowed to remain. Several medical
men, in addition to the operator, had diagnosed an ovarian tumour in
this case. These two patients recovered.
I exhibited chloroform in four operations in which an ovarian cyst was
opened, and the cut edges of it sewed to the wound in the abdominal
parietes. These four patients, I believe, all died. I am quite certain
as regards three of them.
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