THE ADMINISTRATION OF CHLOROFORM.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 146, 21 June 1901, Page 2

THE ADMINISTRATION OF CHLOROFORM.

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—-I read with great pleasure, and some astonishment, your leader yesterday on the administration of chloroform. The astonishment was caused by finding an Auckland newspaper concerning itself with any subject that, did not touch either the pockets or the pleasures of its subscribers.

That A-ocTJand should tamely submit to the imbecile misgovernment of the Hospital by the Hospital Board will surprise nobody who knows how Auckland public bodies are elected, and by whom they are elected. Still, there is a point at which, I believe, even sheep become rebellious, and when two deaths from chloroform occur within about a month in one hospital, it does seem time that some row should be made about it.

It is now more than fifty-three (53) years since I first saw chloroform administered for ,a surgical operation, and during all that time since, having given it and seen it given many hundreds of limes, I have never (thank God!) seen a death from it or any other anaesthetic, I have before me now a letter from the late medical superintendent of the Auckland Hospital, who says: "I have given anaesthetics, mostly chloroform, some thousands of times, and I have never had a death."

I have, however, seen many cases in which death would certainly have taken place had the administrator of the anaesthetic been either careless or incompetent. A minute's distraction (by looking at the operation, for instance, instead of the patient), may be quite sufficient to render all subsequent efforts to restore animation ineffectual.

The results of the Hyderabad commission/have not been accepted as conclusive by many, most experienced men. It is certainly not true that death always occurs from failure of the respiration primarily. Experiments on animals, which were the basis of the conclusions of the Hyderabad Commission, cannot be accepted without reserve. Take the case of a dog for example. How different must be the effect of the inhalation of chloroform or ether on the nerves of the dog's nostrils, compared with a man's. Then again, most dogs have much greater power in the respiratory muscles than any man not in perfect training, as anyone must know who has tried to chase a dog. The same is the case with monkeys, who possess an agility which none but trained and skilful gymnasts could imitate.

It must be borne in mind that there never can be complete unconsciousness, and insensibility to pain, without danger of death. It is impossible to produce such a state of the system with a complete temporary abolition of /some of the most important functions of the critical nervous systems; without running the risk of sudden death. To put persous who have recently obtained their diplomas, and who can have no experience, to administer chloroform, is, 4n my opinion, a scandalous risking of human life. _.

I should like to know why, in these, inquests, none of the nurses were called as witnesses. Surely their testimony to the symptoms would be .just as valuable, and more probably impartial, than that of medical men. who are all more, or less implicated in the case.

I should" like to see a thorough In-1 vestigation before an impartial tri-

bunal, composed of intelligent and educated laymen, and experienced medical practitioners, who would know how to cross-examine the medical witnesses. I think if the medical witnesses had to face such a tribunal, instead of an ignorant coroner's jury, there would be less whitewashing evidence. According to the report in the papers, it appeared to me that the man did not die of the chloroform at all, but accidentally died on the table from no discoverable disease! What is the use of doctors, .what is the use of medical examinations for insurance, etc., if there exist mysterious diseases which have no symptoms during life, and leave no traces after death?

I ask you to insert this letter, as it is written without emasculating it to suit your own views. I think I am entitled, with my experience, to pronounce an opinion about these cases. —I am, etc..

E. H. BAKEWELL, M.D 160, Hobson-street. June 21, 1901.