A guide to therapeutics / by Robert Farquharson.

  • Farquharson, Robert, 1836-1918.
Date:
1883
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A guide to therapeutics / by Robert Farquharson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    influence of the drug on the ganglionic centres of the sen- sory nerves. The reflex functions of the cord are also lulled to slumber, and if the inhalation is pushed too far, paralysis of the re- spiratory centre may ensue. Its inhalation under certain circumstances is apt to excite erotic sensations in women, and to lead them to bring un- founded accusations against medical men. 2. Heart and Circulation. —On the heart the influence of chloroform is at first slightly stimulating, the pulse becom- ing quickened; but secondary depression follows from a pa- ralysing influence on the sym- pathetic ganglia, the pulse now growing slower, and the arte- rial tension becoming lowered. 3. Respiration and Tem- perature. — The respiration tends at first towards in- creased rapidity, but if the in- halation is pushed so far as to affect the respiratory centre, the breathing grows slower, and finally ceases. We usually observe some tendency to per- spiration attending chloroform inhalation, and a consequent slight reduction of temperature. foundry insensible, with con- tracted pupils ; and finally we reach that of i narcosis,' in which the face becomes con- gested, the pupils dilate, and stertorous breathing sets in. Chloroform inhalation is used during its first stage to alle- viate the pain of child-birth, it being found that full anaes- thesia under these circum- stances is apt to relax the uterine muscular tissues, and not only to check their con- traction, but to predispose to future hemorrhage. During the second stage chloroform is used for the purpose of obtaining full and complete insensibility to pain during the performance of operations; and this invalu- able property has deprived the practice of surgery of much of its former horrors. We also employ it freely to relax muscular tension and spasm, and so facilitate the reduction of hernia and dislo- cation ; for diagnostic pur- poses, in order to dispel phan- tomic uterine tumours, as well as to enable us to make a care- ful examination of extremely painful parts. It is also of service for the