CHLOROFORM.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 11108, 29 October 1901, Page 6

CHLOROFORM.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE KRESS. Sir,—l was very sorry to read the letter headed "Death Under Chloroform" in today s "Press," written by "Gommon Sense." 1 have spent several months as a patient in hospitals at various times,, and know how eagerly that sort of letter i s read by patient*, especially those who are awaiting an- operation. It shakes the confidence of the timid among them in'their doctors; and increases their dread, of anaesthetics, thereby minimising their ohance of recovery. Thomas Park's death was caused to some extent by fright; and it ie possible that this fright was caused, in a great degree." -by- reading the previous letters' of "Cony, «non Sense" • ana others which appeared * some six- months'-ago; questioning the ability of the; doctors who administered chloroform to the late Joseph Lukey. If there was an expert retained for -the sole purpore of administering anaesthetics—as , "Common Sense" suggests—deaths under '' chloroform or ether would still occur; and in, the meantime I am-wilUng to think that doctors- who have spent years of their lives and hundreds -of---pounds, on .their-medical education and training, know more of this important branch-of their, profession than does "Common Sense." My object in writ-' ing is to suggest to "Common Sense" thtat his letters on this subject would do less harm' if they appeared in a medical paper, nob read by the average laynian, than in one that is read by many unfortunate'people in and out of hospital, who will at some future time -have to take an anaesthetic.— Yours, etc., .. IMPATIENT PATIENT.