In the early part of 1847, Dr. Lach of Paris, published a Work, which for elaborate research and profound physiological deduction has not been surpassed, entitled De l'Ether Sulphurique, de son Action Physiologique et son Application a la Chirurgie, At page 13, he uses these words:"En 1843, M. Robert H. Collyer publia a Boston un ouvrage, ou, a "page 26, il declara, qu'un etat de congestion, ou un etat tel qu'on perd "la conscience, peut etre produit par 1'inhalation de vapeurs narcotiques "ou stimulantes. Il avait experiments sur environ vingt personnes. "mais les resultats definitifs furent peu favorables a ces inhalations."

What right had Dr. Lach to arrive at this conclusion? To the mind of the author they were definite results, and were published as such, without any reserve or qualification, "that the inhalation of narcotic "and stimulating vapours produced a nervous congestive state - that "is, a state of unconsciousness and insensibility."

The constant use of the words "the same state of brain," "the identical condition," when referring to a person rendered unconscious, by inhalation or by other means, it is now useless to repeat.

Chloroform, having been discovered in 1830 by Professor Soubeiran, was studied later by Liebig and Dumas; its composition being 1 part carbon, 1 part hydrogen, 3 parts chlorine; it is also called terchloride of formyl. In March, 1847, Flourens, guided by inductive reasoning that chloroform resembled ether, made experiments on the lower animals, and demonstrated its anaesthetic properties, which he announced to the Academy of Science.

MM. Serres, Gruby, Longet, and Flourens made researches as to the action of sulphuric ether on animals, and Sir James Simpson was the first, on the 9th of January, 1847, to narcotize a patient with ether, so that the operation of turning might be accomplished without pain, which was the first application of the anaesthetic process to midwifery.

It was also Sir James Simpson who, at the suggestion of Mr. Waldie, chloroform:.

of Liverpool, first inhaled chloroform on November 4th, 1847, in company with Drs. Keith and Duncan, of Edinburgh.

This marked a new era in anaesthetics, so much so, that, as a rule, the use of chloroform has, for over twenty-three years, monopolized the field to the exclusion of all other agents.

The memory of Sir James Simpson will always be associated with one of the boldest experiments in the noble cause of benefiting his fellow-beings in the hour of suffering - his name is indelibly inscribed as one of the greatest benefactors of the age.

Chloroform has played the most important role in anaesthesia, and though others will be substituted less dangerous and equally effective, it does not detract one iota from the great merit due to the discoverer that it possessed such powerful anaesthetic properties. Perhaps at least twenty millions have received comfort and consolation in the prolongation of life and health - which is the great aim of humane existence - by the aid of the anaesthetic properties of chloroform.

The physiological effects of chloroform are as different as is the temperament and other constitutional peculiarities of the individual who inhales. One of the principal objections is, the tendency to negative the ganglions of the cardiac plexus, which give nervous force to the heart.

The anaesthetic agents are divided into those which at the ordinary temperature are gaseous, and those which are fluid.

The first comprise protoxide of nitrogen (N+O), methylic ether (C2+H6+0), chloride of methylene (C+H3+C1). The second or fluid are sulphuric ether 2 C4+H5+OS2+06, alcohol (C4+H6+O2+HO), ethylic ether (C4+H10+O), bichloride of methylene (C2+H2+CI2),, terchloride of formyl or chloroform (C2+H+Cl3), amylene (C10+H10), turpentine (C2°+H16), bisulphide of carbon (C+S2), hydrochloric-ether (C4+H6+C1).

There are many more which possess anaesthetic properties. The substance chloral (C2+H+Cl3+0) acts on the nervous system as a. powerful sedative. It is administered by the stomach. The anaesthetic effect is of long duration. It seems that the action is immediate on the brain, through the eighth pair of nerves.

Unquestionably other anaesthetics will in course of time be discovered, which are not attended with the risks on some nervous systems which follow the use of chloroform, bichloride of methylene, and other similar compounds.

Amongst the new anaesthetics is the bichloride of methylene, which has been introduced by Dr. Benjamin W. Richardson, "a fluid, whose action is more gentle, but as effective as chloroform; it pro"duces less struggling and less vascular excitement, its narcotic effects "are equally prolonged, it acts uniformly on the nervous centres, it pro"duces sometimes vomiting. When it is carried so far as to kill, it "destroys by equally paralysing the heart and the respiration"

This disposition to paralyse the heart, is the great objection to chloroform; as some persons are peculiarly susceptible to be thus acted on. The bichloride of methylene* has specific gravity of 1.34, whereas chloroform is 1.49; it contains one atom less of chlorine and one atom more of hydrogen. Of the carbon compounds, this is perhaps the safest. Flourens says, "the hydro-carbons which take away pain, also take away life." These when inhaled deaden the vital powers, they extinguish, in their advance from the superior portions of the brain, step by step, the principle of existence, until they arrive at the anterior portion of the medulla oblongata, where exists a point from which arise nerves, which, if paralysed, also compromise life itself.

It is, therefore, of major importance that no anaesthetic should be employed endangering the life of the patient.

The catalogue of anaesthetic agents may now number over thirty, and the most eminent physiologists describe their action to be nearly identical. In fine, there are many comatose states of the nervous system, which present phenomena, so closely allied in their various phases, and seeming to run into each other, that it is most difficult to define limits. Catalepsy, hysterical coma, the syncope which accompanies neurosis, are all governed by the particular temperament and physical condition of the patient. Hysterical coma, or trance, is a special condition of the brain and nervous system - there is sometimes consciousness, with entire loss of sensibility and power of motion. All co-ordination has apparently ceased. It is more than probable that consciousness which persons suppose they possess, during a trance, may arise from the confused dreamy ideas consequent on returning consciousness. A few moments in a reverie may appear to occupy days or months.

There are two marked and opposite conditions of the nervous system, both accompanied by loss of consciousness, both anaesthetic states. The first arises from an excess of nervous fluid arising from increased action of the lungs, producing true "nervous congestion," as when Nitrous Oxide, Alcoholic Vapours, Ether, Chloroform,

* The bichloride of methylene differs, chemically, but slightly from chloroform; in fine, it consists principally of this substance.

Bichloride of Methylene have been inhaled, and in magnetic or nervous coma. In these there is a diminished arterial supply to the brain, or an anaemic state. An interesting case is recorded in the American Journal of Medical Science, October, 1860, page 400, in which the condition of the circulation in the brain was observed during anaesthesia - a person who had extensive fracture of the cranium, which permitted a view of the encephalon. It was seen that, as chloroform was administered, during the effect of the narcotizing influence the brain was remarkably pale, and whenever the anaesthetic effect began to subside, the surface of the brain became florid and injected.

That the anaesthetic state is one of nervous congestion arising from excess of nervous fluid I have never doubted, for it is this nervous congestion which deprives the surface of its sensibility, by the supply being cut off. The nervous tissues of the lungs are specially acted on during the inhalation of anaesthetics. The first stage is one of mental excitement. The second, of delirium, which rapidly runs into that of loss of consciousness, or the third stage. If carried beyond this, life may be compromised.

Whenever the functions of the lungs are so low, or there is an impaired condition of creating nerve fluid, then we find the medulla and ganglionic nerves only supplied. A condition of existence resembling the lowest orders of animal life.

On one occasion I was so fortunate as to witness in New York, in October, 1853, a most remarkable case, exemplifying under abnormal conditions how low the human physical existence can be brought.

Cornelius Vroman, aged 37, was exhibited by a Dr. Came as having remained in a state of somnolence for upwards of five years. A more emaciated skeleton-like being I never witnessed. Life was a mere organic existence, he simply vegetated. The intellectual faculties were at zero: the circulation and nerve power as low as the turtle. It was with great difficulty that any pulsation could be discovered; the temperature was 60° Fahrenheit. From what I could gather from Dr. Came, Cornelius had brought the condition on himself by excessive onanism. The respiratory murmur was discoverable by the aid of careful auscultation. I placed Cornelius in every imaginable attitude, which he would retain for hours; the muscles were in a semi-rigid condition. On one occasion he was put on his legs, Dr. Came not placing him upright, he fell over, his head coming in contact with a marble table, causing a contusion two inches in length; this blow had not the least effect in bringing him to consciousness. Every three months his state of sleep was interrupted by a short waking of about twenty minutes, during which period he devoured everything eatable placed within his reach; he would then relapse into another three months' doze, from which no effort could rouse him.

He was daily supplied with a few teaspoonfuls of liquid food, which he swallowed with great difficulty.

The whole details of this marvellous case are fully recorded in the New York Scalpel of October, 1853.

The contrast with the following case will be sufficient reason for its introduction.

The cause which induced this sleeplessness would, if reversed, have produced the opposite condition of brain.