THE DISCOVERY OF CHLOROFORM.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 97, 14 June 1911, Page 3

THE DISCOVERY OF CHLOROFORM.

SIR JAMES SIMPSON’S CAREER. Sir James Young Simpson, the famous physician, was born at Bathgate, Linlithgowshire, Scotland, on Juno 7, 1811, a baker’s son, the youngest of a family of eight. He early showed a peculiar talent, for medical observation and research, and. in his prosecution of his professional studies at the University of Edinburgh, which ho entered at the ago of fourteen years, ho so attracted the notice of his teachers as to inspire all of them to take an active interest in his future career. He took Ids medical degree in 1882, Ids thesis on ‘‘Death from Indammation” winning the highest admiration. Three years later he was elected president of the Royal Medical Society—a rare distinction for one so young. Professor Thomson chose him as his assistant, and employed him in the preparation of Ids course of lectures on general pathology. During the illness of the professor ho supplied ids place in, the lecture room with unusual skill and address. He then began practice on his own account, and in 1810 ,succeeded Professor Hamilton in the Chair of Midwifery. This position ho hold with yearly enhanced distinction, and by tire rigidly scientilic, while popularly attractive, character of Ids predilections, contributed greatly to the renown of the Edinburgh school, both at homo and abroad. He was indefatigable, amidst the distractions and cares of an extensive practice, in promoting the scientilic perfection of his art, and iiis “Obstetric Memoirs” contains thj,' fruit of ranch patient and ingenious research. The discovery by which lie will eve r be best remembered is that of the anaesthetic virtues of chloroform. The so-called sulphuric ether had been previously emnloyed in America l;v Dr. Moi ton. but to Sir Janies Simpson rightly belongs the credit of first, in March., 1817, introducing chloroform to the scientilic world. GlJoraTonii was discovered as a chemical cniiosity about the same (hue (18811 ly Guthrie in America, Liebig in Germany, and fioubeiran in France.