so as completely to extinguish their natural sensibility. It is thus an agent of immense value where we wish to save the patient from an extreme and agonizing degree of irritative pain, whether to be caused by the edge of a cutting instrument, or by the throes of parturition. But it also acts as an anæsthetic when applied locally, as to a painful ulcer, or a hollow tooth-stump. (3.) The third kind of pain is _reflex_ in its origin; as the pain in the knee in Hip-joint disease. We should do no good if we troubled ourselves to combat the local symptom in such a case; we should rather direct our attention to that condition which is the distant cause of the pain. (4.) A fourth kind of pain may be called _eccentric_. Like the last, it does not originate in the painful part. It has its origin in the brain or nervous centres. Of such a kind are the various pains of Hysteria. Local anæsthetics are here worse than useless. The brain disorder must, if possible, be remedied. Chloroform is better adapted for inhalation than Ether, because it is considerably less irritating. It is, on the whole, very safe, when proper care is taken. And yet it cannot be denied that sudden deaths _have_ occurred from the use of Chloroform, which could not have been avoided by any known precautions. Such an admission tells little against the remedy; for supposing the proportion of deaths from inhalation to be about 1 in 10,000, it must be confessed that it is better that one out of that number should die of the Chloroform than that 100 should die of fright. Out of 9000 cases of its inhalation at St. Bartholomew's Hospital it is reported that not one died of the anæsthetic. The stages of the action of Chloroform when inhaled may be briefly stated as follows: _1st stage_: some alteration in the feelings of the patient; _2d stage_: inebriation; the mind and volition are impaired; consciousness remains; _3d stage_: unconsciousness; anæsthesia.[48] The loss of sensibility may even occur in the second stage, the patient remaining conscious. The inhalation should not be prolonged beyond the occurrence of the third stage. The pulse is still full. There may be muscular movements, or even cries. In the next stage there is stertorous breathing; the eyelids no longer contract when touched with the finger; the pulse is felt to falter. This is dangerous. To this succeed stoppage of the heart and respiration;--death.