The American Journal of the Medical Sciences (Volume 54)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1867. Excerpt: ... external excitation upon the heart's action manifests itself,1 while during complete anaesthesia it is abolished. To admit any reflex action whatever after sensibility to mechanical irritants is abolished would be to admit an effect without a cause. Mr. Bickersteth also expressed bis conviction that accident in this way is less likely to occur when the anaesthesia is profound.3 Mr. Lister saw a patient die when partially under the influence of chloroform, and expresses the opinion that he would have passed safely through the operation had the influence been complete. This, then, brings us to a point at which the doctrine becomes of the highest practical importance; it forces upon us the question, is partial anaesthesia more dangerous than complete? a question beside which the mode of death, simply considered as such, becomes insignificant. In support of the affirmative we have seen that there is considerable respectable authority; we will now give all the facts we can find bearing upon the subject. Case 1. A man mentioned by Mr. Lister in his article on Chloroform in Holmes' System of Surgery. The patient was but partially under the influence of the amesthetic, and died instantly as the knife divided the penis. Case 2. Mad. Simon, aged 36, June 11, 1852. (Perrin, p. 282.) Patient of general good health, but in a state of great nervous excitement and dread in regard to the extraction of three teeth; administration by an officier de sante. A small quantity of chloroform was poured on a handkerchief, and held near the mouth and nose. She announced almost immediately that she felt the effects of it; the three teeth were rapidly extracted. During this operation, which lasted but an instant, the husband was struck with the alteration of the features of his ...