USE OF CHLOROFORM

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XXXXI, Issue XXXXI, 15 June 1920, Page 3

USE OF CHLOROFORM

DISCOURAGED IN AMERICA

LOS ANGELOS, April 2. A few months ago a discussion took place among the members of the Auckland Hospital Board and the medical staff as to the wisdom of using chloroform as an anaesthetic. Drs. P. M. and Florence Keller, who are connected with several important hospitals in California, state that the use'of chloroform is strongly discouraged in this country on-account of the clanger connected with its flse. In the Vancouver General Hospital, they say, it is usual to start with ethol chloride and then go to ether. In California, the doctors start" wicTi nitrous oxide and oxygen gas, and then go to ether. They'perform some major surgical operations with nitrous oxide and oxygen. In the White Memorial Hospital they are not using scopalimine and morphine, but occasionally atropine-and"morphine before administering an anaesthetic.

Dr P. M. Keller said he was pleased to find that the United States Department of Labor has published a pamphlet on the subject of child welfare for free distribution. It deals with infant mortality and infant care in New Zealand.