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 6._ A guineapig was placed in the jar holding 3,000 cubic
inches, and 37·5 grains of chloroform were introduced in the same manner
as in the former experiments, being a grain and a quarter to each 100
cubic inches of air. The chloroform took three or four minutes to
evaporate and diffuse itself in the jar; and by the end of this time the
guineapig, which had been excited and running about, began to stagger,
and in two minutes longer it was unable to walk, but endeavoured to keep
its balance when the jar was inclined. At the end of a quarter of an
hour it was lying still, but moved its limbs when it was rolled over by
inclining the jar; but it made no voluntary effort. It was taken out
when thirty-three minutes had elapsed. It moved its limbs as it was
removed, though apparently not in a voluntary manner. Its limbs were not
relaxed. It was quite insensible to pricking. It recovered in about ten
minutes. The temperature in the axilla before it was put into the jar
was 100° Fah., and immediately after its removal 96°.
_Experiment 7._ A guineapig was placed in the same jar, and forty-five
grains of chloroform were introduced, being a grain and a half to each
100 cubic inches of air. In four minutes after the chloroform had
evaporated, the guineapig was unable to walk. In half a minute more it
seemed asleep, but there was a tremulous motion of the hind legs, which
continued till ten minutes had elapsed. Afterwards it lay still, but
winked now and then spontaneously. When rolled over by moving the jar,
it made no voluntary effort. It was taken out twenty minutes after the
chloroform had evaporated. It winked spontaneously, and also when the
eyes were touched. It did not flinch when the ear was pricked, but
flinched when the paw was pricked. The temperature in the axilla before
the experiment was 100°, and immediately afterwards it was 96°. The
guineapig recovered from the effects of the chloroform in ten minutes.
_Experiment 8._ A guineapig was put into the same jar, and 52·5 grains
of chloroform were introduced, being a grain and three-quarters to each
100 cubic inches of air. The chloroform evaporated in the course of four
minutes, at the end of which time the guineapig was altered in its
manner, as if partially inebriated. In two minutes more it was becoming
drowsy. A little while afterwards it was lying down. Six minutes after
the evaporation of the chloroform was complete, the guineapig made no
effort when turned over by inclining the jar, but only moved its feet,
as it were automatically. At the end of nine minutes, it was lying
quietly and breathing naturally. When fifteen minutes had elapsed it was
in the same condition, and was removed from the jar. It cried and
flinched on the foot being pricked. The temperature in the axilla was
97°. In five minutes after its removal it was fast recovering, and in
ten minutes was quite recovered.
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