ANESTHETIC AGENTS. 



Tin-: recent introduction into the practice of surgery, of a class of 

 medicines, possessing the remarkable property of annulling pain, 

 has excited throughout the medical world an extraordinary interest. 



So much has been written upon this subject, and so completely 

 has the medical mind been engrossed with its consideration during 

 the past year, that the profession throughout the United States may 

 be fairly presumed to be, by this time, generally acquainted with the 

 nature and effects of these agents. 



The fact IS established, that certain ethereal vapours -when in- 

 haled, will produce insensibility to pain, and that the most sensi- 

 tive portions of the living body may be divided by the knife of the 

 surgeon, Avhile his patient lies in a state of unconsciousness. 



This new revelation of science has been received by all with 

 great interest, and by the more sanguine and enthusiastic in our 

 profession, with admiration and gratitude. It is a truth, which, 

 whatever may be thought of the benefits or evils which may arise 

 from its application, cannot fail to command attention, developing 

 as it docs, a power over human suffering, now the first time revealed. 



The great question, which still divides medical opinion, is: can 

 the annulling of pain by anaesthetic agents be produced without risk 

 to life, or is the hazard so inconsiderable as to justify their employ- 

 ment in all cases where it is desirable to prevent the pain of sur- 

 gical operations? In other words, do the risks and evils attendant 

 upon the use of these agents in surgery, counterbalance the advan- 

 tages afforded by exemption from pain, and to what extent and 

 under what circumstances is it proper to use them? 



With a large ami intelligent body of the medical community, in- 

 cluding BOme of the mosl eminent surgeons of this and other coun- 

 tries, this question is considered as settled. They look upon the 

 dangers of etherization as so inconsiderable, as to justify the in- 

 duction of this state, prior to all surgical operations in which tin 

 pain is an important consideration, while they consider the advan- 

 tages of arnesthetic agents to be especially manifest in all extcn- 



