DEATH FROM CHLOROEOM.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VIII, Issue 2154, 22 September 1875, Page 3

DEATH FROM CHLOROEOM.

Tins Pleasant CrccbNm statoa that Iho first death that ever took placo at tho Pleasant Creole Hospital, Viotoria, during tUo- administration of chloroform to a patient under operation, occurred on Sunday last. Dr Uolquhouu, in company with Drs O'Counoll and Bennett, was present to perform two operations. Tho first' oaso was that of a fomalo paliont from Forth Corack station, for cancor in tho breast. This was accomplished quito successfully. Tho sefcond to bo dealt with was a man named Wm. Gourlay, admitted last March for compound fracturo of tho leg. It was feared ampliation would bo necessary, but after consultation, aud it being found that only a portion of tho bones had not joined properly, it was resolved to romovo tlmt porlion. JIo was placed on tho operatingtable, but beforo anything was done, Dr Bennott remarked to tho paliont that ho had heard ho was a litllo timid about ohloroform. Gourlay said, in. roply, that ho had hoard ,of ono or two deaths occurring through tho. uso of it. Tho doctor replied that although a doalh perhaps rniflht occur but of soveral thousand cases, surely ho, Gourlay, was not going to bo that ono. Prior to administering, ho examined tho patient carefully, to ascertain if thcro was anything in his stato to contra-indicato tho uso of chloroform. Ho listoncd to tho heart's action and felt tho pulse, and both woro considered satisfactory. Drs Oolquhouu aud O'JDonncll concurred with him in tho conclusion ho arrived at., Dr Bennolt commenced to administer'tho chloroform, keeping all tho timo ono of his fingers ou the temporal artery. After two or threo minutes- inhalation, without tiny premonitory symptoms, tho heart's action suddenly ceased. Efforts woro immediately mado torestoro animation, but all in vain.