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
_Experiment 2._ A guineapig was placed in the same jar, and twenty-two
and a half grains of chloroform were introduced in the same manner as
before, being three-quarters of a grain to each hundred cubic inches of
air. In two or three minutes the chloroform was converted into vapour
and diffused through the air in the jar. Six minutes afterwards the
guineapig began to stagger, and soon afterwards was unable to keep on
its legs. It was kept for half an hour in the jar, but did not become
further affected. It was occasionally quiet, but always tried to walk
when disturbed by moving the jar. When taken out, it flinched on being
pricked, and it tried to walk, although unable to support itself on its
legs. It recovered from the effects of the chloroform in three or four
minutes.
_Experiment 3._ Another guineapig was placed in the same jar, and thirty
grains of chloroform were introduced. In three or four minutes the
chloroform had evaporated and diffused itself through the air in the
jar. In two minutes afterwards the guineapig lay down, but stirred when
the jar was moved. It was allowed to remain in the jar for half an hour,
being asleep except when disturbed. When taken out it awoke and
endeavoured to walk, but was unable to support itself at first. It
flinched on being pricked. Recovered in three or four minutes.
_Experiment 4._ A cat was placed in the same jar, and the same quantity
of chloroform was introduced. In three minutes it had evaporated, and,
when ten minutes had elapsed, the cat began to stagger. Soon afterwards
it was unable to support itself on its legs; and, when a quarter of an
hour had elapsed, it seemed asleep, but raised its head when the jar was
inclined. It remained apparently sleeping till the end of an hour, when
it was taken out. It was unable to stand, but was sensible to the
slightest pinch. It recovered gradually in the course of twenty minutes.
_Experiment 5._ Sixteen grains of chloroform were put into a jar holding
1,600 cubic inches, being one grain to each 100 cubic inches of air, as
in the two last experiments. When it was converted into vapour, a white
mouse was introduced, by moving the lid a little to one side for a
moment. After running about for a minute and a half, it began to stagger
and to lose power, but it continued to run with little intermission till
three minutes had expired. After this it lay still, except when the jar
was inclined, when it always endeavoured to maintain its balance and to
walk. It also moved its limbs now and then, when not disturbed. It was
removed at the end of ten minutes, when it tried to walk, but was
unable. It did not flinch when its tail was pinched, but flinched, half
a minute after its removal, on one of its toes being pinched. It
recovered in two or three minutes.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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