Hydrate of chloral and nitrous oxide gas as anaesthetics / by Charles Kidd.

  • Kidd, Charles.
Date:
1870
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Hydrate of chloral and nitrous oxide gas as anaesthetics / by Charles Kidd. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    It is worth remembering that very complete anesthesia may be produced by injecting the venous blood of the jugular into the carotid artery of the same animal; nay, that anesthesia is sometimes possible Avithout complete unconsciousness. Cardiac syncope is caused by stimulation of the inferior branches of the vagus, as mentioned several years ago, but it has recently been put forAvard as new by the chemical school, with the further explanation that this stimulation results from the venous condition of blood. Brown-Sequard and Scheinessan have discussed the point. But experiments in the laboratory, or on animals, where the latter are simply sutfocated, it cannot be too often repeated, are not the same as cautious experience Avlth anesthetics on man, Avhere every possible care is taken that accident or smothering shall not take place; hence the errors of the chemical school. We have practi- cally very little to do in hospitals either with “ syncopal apnea,” or suffocation of animals in 20 per cent, of chloroform, as exhibited in popular lectures, Avith suffocation by prolonged nitrous oxide gas; and surely, if cardiac syncope is caused by the venous condition of the blood, the venous condition of the blood under this “ gas” is most alarming, and yet Avithout cardiac syncope. The most lamentable results occasionally arise at coroners’ in- quests, or in other legal proceedings, as I have elseAvhere explained, from this popularizing of the idea, that chloroform, as at lectures, is a most deadly agent under every circumstance, whereas, Avith care and average skill, it is as safe as any other anesthetic. Military surgeons need not be afraid of these deadly experiments, or syncopal apnea, or electricity in impending death. All goes right Avhile the respiration, as just said, is good; but noAV fifteen grain doses of the chloral hydrate, repeated two or three times, Avill produce a state like the sleep of chloroform. Three cases of tetanus, after the battle of Sedan, Avere Avonderfully relieved by the chloral hydrate. Military surgery is thus improved. Surgeons in Avar should have correct views on such chloroform accidents. A noAV dead superstition as to large balloon apparatuses had impeded progress, and been the cause of several deaths and actual imprisonment of a surgeon in China because death had happened! In a word, sudden accidents from a cautious administration of chloroform in small nalf-dram doses, Avlierc alarm in the patient’s mind, exceptional depression, or idiosyncrasy, arc at Avork in causing syncope, are most jirobably altogether unlike the state