On December 17, 1897, a fatality occurred during the administration of ether. The patient, a woman aged forty-four years, who suffered from "internal cancer," was admitted for operation into the new hospital for women, Euston Road. It was considered that an operation would afford a chance of the prolongation of her life. At the time of admission the patient was in a very exhausted condition. Mrs. Keith, the anaesthetist to the hospital, administered nitrous oxide gas, followed by ether, which combination of anaesthetics the patient took well. After the expiration of thirty minutes and while the operation was in progress the patient became so collapsed that the surgeon was requested by the anaesthetist to desist from further surgical procedure and she at once complied. Resuscitative measures were at once applied, but the patient died after about ten minutes from circulatory failure arising from surgical shock and collapse. We have not received any particulars as to the means adopted to restore the woman or whether hemorrhage was severe. In all such cases posture, warmth and guarding the patient from the effects of hemorrhage are undoubtedly the most important points for attention both before and during the operation. The fact is established that both chloroform and ether cause a fall of body temperature, and so increase shock unless the trunk and limbs are kept wrapped in flannel or cotton-wool. The fall of temperature under severe abdominal and vaginal operations again is considerable. A profound anaesthesia allows of a considerable drop in arterial tension, which has been shown to be least when the limbs and pelvis are placed at a higher level than the head. Again, saline transfusion of Ringer's fluid certainly lessens the collapse in such cases when the bleeding, always severe, has been excessive. We do not doubt that such a severe operation undertaken when the patient was in a dangerous state of exhaustion was as far as possible safeguarded by every precaution, and we regret we have not been favored with the particulars of the methods employed. A death following the administration of ether is reported from the Corbett Hospital, Stourbridge.[1] The patient, aged thirty-nine years, was admitted on September 21, 1897, suffering from fracture of the right femur. A prolonged application of splints led to a stiffness with adhesions about the knee joint which were to be dealt with under an anaesthetic on December 8. Ether was given from a Clover's inhaler; one ounce was used. The induction was slightly longer than usual but was marked by no unusual phenomena. No sickness occurred during or after anaesthesia and no respiratory spasm was seen. There was a short struggling stage followed by true anaesthesia when the operation, a very brief one, was rapidly performed. The patient was then taken back to the ward and the corneal reflex was noticed as being present. Voluntary movements were also said to have been seen.