A guide to therapeutics / by Robert Farquharson.

  • Farquharson, Robert, 1836-1918.
Date:
1877
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

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

    132/320 (page 120)
    CHLOROFORM. Local Physiological. Chloroform, when allowed to remain for some time in contact with the skin, acts as an irritant, causing redness and smarting, followed by vesi- cation. It has also, however, some sedative properties. Chloroform is an excellent solvent of ca.outchouc, gutta percha, and many fats and resins, and it also greatly as- sists the cutaneous absorption of most of the alkaloids. Therapeutical. The locally sedative action of chloroform has led to its extensive use as an application for the relief of I'heumatic or neuralgic pains, the liniment being a convenient form. It is also a useful remedy for allaying the itching of some chronic forms of skin disease. Constitutional Action. Chloroform, when taken in- ternally, may act as a stimu- lant, sedative, and antispas- modic. It is a useful remedy in hysteria, asthma, and ner- vous palpitation, for the arrest of sea-sickness and other forms of vomiting, and for the sooth- ing and quieting of some forms of irritable cough. Combined Local and Constitutional Effect. Under this heading it may be convenient to discuss the anaesthetic properties of chloroform, and this we will now pro- ceed to do on the plan adopted generally throughout these pages.