the highest degree essential that chloroform should contain no vestige of it, in a free or uncombined state; that is, over and above the three proportionals in union with, and neu tralized by, the one proportional of formyle.

The production of chloroform by the process just de scribed, is the result of a somewhat complex decomposition. Suffice it here to state that the carbon, hydrogen, and chlo rine, which constitute that substance, exist in the spirit, water, and chloride of calcium, and that the action of heat. in the distillation of the mixture, causes those elements to re-arrange themselves in the shape of the terchloride of formyle.

cream.

And now, the chemist having placed chloroform in the surgeon's hands, in what manner does the latter proceed to employ the gift? Chloroform is most conveniently administered on a sponge, placed in a small silver or plated vessel, with flexible edges, made to fit accurately over the nose and mouth, which have been first anointed with a little cold A small quantity-say one or two tea-spoonsfulsof the liquid is dropped upon the sponge, and the instrument is adapted to the face of the patient, who is directed to breathe gently and quietly into and out of it. If no inhaler is at hand, a hollow sponge, or a handkerchief rolled into a cup-like form, will suffice. In a short time the eyes become suffused, occasionally a slight struggling, not from pain, but from a species of intoxication, ensues; then the muscles become relaxed, the breathing sonorous, and total insensibility and unconsciousness supervene. Loss of consciousness, however, does not invariably accompany cessation of bodily feeling; insensibility to pain being sometimes caused, the patient, nevertheless, remaining aware of what is going on. There are a few cases in which mere excitement is produced, and which must be considered failures

In the majority of instances, both consciousness, sensibility, and the power of voluntary motion are alike suspended; and in this happy state of oblivion, the subject of an opera tion may be carved without caring about it more than if he were a leg of mutton; may have a limb removed with no greater inconvenience than he would suffer from having his hair cut. Some persons, under the influence of chloroform, even during the most terrible stages of a capital operation; fall into a state of sleep-waking or somnambulism, imagine themselves on a visit, or a journey, and actually spend in an agreeable dream the time which the surgeon is occupying in their dismemberment. The delight of a sufferer who, after weeks and months of torture, is cast into a quiet slumber, and after having enjoyed a particularly pleasant nap, finds that he has left his misery behind him on the operating table, may be imagined.

Not the least remarkable peculiarity of chloroform is its peculiarity of being applied in obstetric practice; for, most singularly, whilst, when so employed, it fully produces its anæsthetic effect on the system; it does not at all interfere with that peculiar muscular action which is requisite for the performance of the process adverted to. The question of the propriety or impropriety, in a medical sense, of its general administration in obstetric cases, is a professional one, which cannot be discussed here; it may, however, be remarked, that the fact that it has been successfully employed in any cases of the kind, must narrow that question to the consideration of what and how many such may be eligible for recourse to it. Against its use in that department of medical practice, however, objections have been urged with which it certainly is within the province of common sense and common morality to deal. The prevention of the sufferings attendant on parturition, by anæs

thetic agents, has been denounced as "unscriptural" and "irreligious;" an attempt to contravene the judgment of Providence on the mother of all living. This objection was not started by the prejudice and imbecility of ordinary fanaticism; it was gravely advanced by educated and even by scientific persons; nay, it was actually put forward in the "Edinburgh Medical and Surgical Journal," for July, 1847. Dr. Simpson found himself obliged to write a pamphlet in reply to it; and he certainly most fully exposed its unsoundness and absurdity. For this demonstration, a very moderate amount of argumentation is, however, sufficient. The severity which has inflicted bodily suffering is qualified by the mercy which has granted medicines and remedies, without prescribing any limit to their employment, whether for cure or for alleviation. If it is morally wrong to use chloroform in obstetricy, it is also wrong to give a common anodyne, or composing draught: nay, it is sinful to administer any kind of medicine whatever to any sick person; sickness, alike with all other evils, being presumed to be the penalty of transgression. Compound extract of colocynth is an impiety at this rate, and black draughts are irreligious. But, apart from particulars, what are we to think of the understanding that could conceive the evasion of a penalty imposed by Infinite Power and Wisdom? The Edinburgh mind, at any rate, is not that which, one would suppose, could have imagined the possibility of frustrating a decree of Omnipotence and Omniscience.

There is, moreover, another description of cases in which the powers of chloroform are available for the purposes of the medical practitioner. The relaxation of the muscles of the limbs which it effects, renders it eminently serviceable in reducing dislocations. A powerful

man, some such a Hercules as one of those sturdy specimens of the Anglo-Saxon race in the employ of Messrs. Barclay and Perkins, meets with an accident which violently dislodges the head of the shoulder-bone or the thigh-bone from its socket. This accident, if not remedied, would deprive him of the means of earning his bread. The bone being out of its place, the business of the surgeon is to pull it in again. But this duty is more easily prescribed than accomplished. All the powerful muscles surrounding the joint, contracting violently, are exerting their whole force to retain the head of the bone in its unnatural position. Under the most favorable circumstances of the case, as treated by old-fashioned surgery, the reduction of the dislocation is effected with the aid of pulleys, by slowly tiring out the opposing muscles, till at last they yield from very fatigue, and allow the bone to return to its place. But this is not always practicable, and it has not unfrequently been judged necessary by surgeons to subdue the muscular action by bleeding, and the administration of remedies, such as tartrate of antimony, which produce an extreme and overwhelming prostration of the vital powers. Downright intoxication, even, has been recommended by some authors for this purpose. By the inhalation of chloroform, the required muscular conditions are readily obtained; the patient sinks into insensibility, declaring that he feels " quite jolly," and the pulleys having been previously adjusted to the limb, the dislocation is reduced without force, difficulty, or pain.

Still more striking must be the service of chloroform in a case wherein the object is a reduction of displaced parts, which, if not practicable by ordinary means, must be ef fected by an operation,-a step to which any seriously exhaustive measures are very undesirable preliminaries.

Chloroform, moreover, affords most valuable assistance in the performance of operations, perhaps of a difficult and dangerous nature, upon infants, whose acquiescence in the surgeon's proceedings is extremely to be wished for, and not usually to be obtained. To say nothing of the real blessing to mothers, and all humane persons, involved in the prevention of the poor little creature's suffering.

Chloroform has also been administered with advantage in cases of less serious interest, which sometimes occur in hospital practice. A specimen of the disorder in question 'is that of Mr. Simpcox, related by Shakspeare, in the second act of "Henry the Sixth." In short, the cases alluded to are cases of shamming. A knave desirous of hospital diet and accommodation, and hospital leisure, presents himself with a stiff knee or elbow joint. A little chloroform is administered for the relief of this affliction; and the rogue, having been reduced to a state of insensibility, awakes with his limb precisely in that position in which he protested that he could not place it by any means.

It is also worthy of mention that the benefit of chloroform has been extended to the brute creation. During the - unconsciousness it produces, a leopard has had a leg amputated. So remarkably savage a species of beast, indeed, has it charms to soothe, that even bears, under its tranquillizing influence, have been relieved of cataract-couched, if the phrase may be hazarded, in slumber.

But are there no objections to the use of chloroform deserving of serious consideration ? There are, indeed, An advanced stage

some very grave objections to its use. of pulmonary disease, malformation or disease of the heart, or tendency to apoplexy, would be objections of this nature; and an objection which comprehends them all, would be the employment of this agent by an incompetent person;