THE DISCOVERY OF CHLOROFORM.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXXI, Issue 10308, 29 March 1894, Page 2

THE DISCOVERY OF CHLOROFORM.

The January issue of the Century Magazine contains a paper on “ Sir James Simpson’s Introduction of Chloroform,” written by his daughter. Following up the American discovery of sulphuric ether as an ansesthethic, we are told of the pro* fessor’a Infinite pains and frequent disappointments in his search for a more effectual means for avoiding the agonies of operation. AN AWKWARD FIX. The doctor’s researches were not without their humorous side. He possessed considerable mesmeric influence, and often exerted his powers with it. An amusing story is told ia this connection One day at luncheon he commanded a lady whom he had mesmerised to remain silent till he gave her back the power of speech. Along with his other guests he was laughing at her compulsory dumbness when he was called from the room, found he was urgently wanted at a distance, caught a train, and was absent a few days. Meanwhile he quite forgot hia- dumb victim, but on bio return home, weary with hia journey, ho was forcibly reminded of her by many- written messages to come at dace. . Conscience-smitten at having neglected her, he hurried off immediately. On returning homo, when he was asked if he had given her back the power of speech, he replied: “ Yea. I almost wish I hadn’t, for her tongue, being. silent for so long, and her anger bottled up on the tip of it, I got it all.” THE FIRST TRIAL OF CHLOROFORM. Sir James was daring even to rashness in his experiments, and, aa a rule, tried tha effect of his drugs upon himself, more than once endangering his life ia doing so. The account of tho first trial of chloroform reminds one irresistibly of the bacchanalian orgies -which Squire Western and < his bucolic companions frequently enjoyed; and, despite the weighty interests with which the stance was fraught, we cannot repress a smile at the ludicrous disappearance of the savants under tho mahogany :*— On returning home after a weary day’s labour. Dr Simpson, with his two friends and assistants, Drs Keith and Matthews Duncan, sat down to their somewhat hazardous work ia Dr Simpson’s dining-, room. Having inhaled several substances, but without much effect, it occurred to Dr Simpson to try a ponderous material which ho bad formerly set aside on a lumbertable, and which, on account of its great weight, he had hitherto regarded as of no use whatever. It happened to be a small bottle of chloroform. It was searched for, and recovered from beneath a heap of waste paper, and, with each tumbler newly charged, the inhalers resumed their vocation. Immediately an unwonted hilarity seized the party; they became bright-eyed, very happy, and very loquacious, expatiating on the delicious aroma of the new fluid. Tho conversation was of unusual intelligence, end quite charmed the listeners—some ladies of the family and a naval officer, a brother-in-law of Dr Simpson. But suddenly there was a talk of sounds being heard like those of a cotton-mill, louder and louder; a moment more, then all was quiet, and then a crash. On awakening Dr Simpson’s first perception was mental, “This is far stronger and better than ether,” said ho to himself. Hie second was to note that he was prostrate on the floor, and that among the friends about him there was both confusion end alarm. Hearing a noise, he turned about and saw Dr Duncan beneath a chair; his jaw had dropped, his eyts were staring, his head was bent bait under him; be was qoi'e unconscious, and was tnoring in a most determined and alarming manner. More

noise still, and much, motion. And then his eyes overtook Dr Keith’s feet and lege making valorous efforts to overturn the supper-table, or more probably to annihilate everything that was on it. I say “more probably/’ for frequent repetitions of inhalation have confirmed, in the case of my esteemed friend, a character for maniacal and unrestrained destructiveness always under chloroform in the transition stage. After such convincing testimony to its power. Sir James lost no time in publicly proclaiming the virtues of the new anajthetie, thereby earning the everlasting thanks of the whole world.