Volume 1

Account of a new anaesthetic agent, as a substitute for sulphuric ether in surgery and midwifery / [Sir James Young Simpson].

  • Simpson, James Young, 1811-1870
Date:
1847
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Account of a new anaesthetic agent, as a substitute for sulphuric ether in surgery and midwifery / [Sir James Young Simpson]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    3. Most of those who know from previous expe- rience the sensations produced ‘by ether inhalation, and who have subsequently breathed the Chloro- form, have strongly declared the inhalation and in- fluence of Chloroform to be far more agreeable and pleasant than those of Ether. 4. I believe, that considering the small quantity requisite, as compared with Ether, the use of Chlo- roform will be less expensive than that of Hther; ferred to, I took occasion, when discussing the conditions requisite for insuring successful etherization, to observe, “ First, The patient ought to be left, as far as possible, in a state of absolute quietude and freedom from mental excitement, both during the induction of etheri- zation, and during his recovery from it. All talking and all question- ing should be strictly prohibited. In this way any tendency to excite- ment is eschewed, and the proper effect of the ether inhalation more speedily and ‘certainly induced. And, Secondly, with the same view, the primary. stage of exhilaration should be entirely avoided, or at least reduced to the shortest possible limit, by impregnating the respired air as fully with the ether vapour as the patient can bear, and by allowing it to pass into the lungs both by the mouth and nostrils, .so as rapidly and at once to superinduce its complete and anesthetic, effect; * *.*.* a very common but certainly a very unpardonable error bemg to exhibit an imperfect and exciting, instead of a perfect and narcotizing dose of the vapour. Many of the. alleged failures and misadventures are doubtless entirely attri- butable to the neglect of this simple rule;—not the principle of etherization, but the mode of putting it in practice being altogether to blame.” But, Thirdly, whatever means or mode of etherization is