177 



sive ones, involving life, where the nervous shock (which they believe 

 lessened by them) might increase the risks of a fatal issue. 



Another class of surgeons would restrict the use of these agents 

 to severe operations, and discourage their general employment, 

 under a belief that their full effect cannot be attained without a de- 

 gree of danger which would render their indiscriminate use un- 

 justifiable. While a small portion of the profession still object 

 altogether to angesthetics as dangerous and hurtful in their tend- 

 ency, increasing the risks attendant on large and serious surgical 

 operations, and embarrassing the proceedings of the operator, by 

 causing delay and indecision in his movements. It is not within 

 the province of your committee to sit in judgment upon these con- 

 flicting views, or to become partizans upon the question. 



Within the past eighteen months a large mass of testimony upon 

 this subject has been accumulated both at home and abroad, and 

 has been freely circulated through the medium of the medical peri- 

 odicals of the country, and other publications. Upon this evidence 

 individual opinion must be based. Considering the brief period 

 during which the powers of these agents have been on trial, it is not 

 surprising that uniformity of opinion in regard to their value has 

 not yet been attained. Those who differ widely upon the subject, 

 are no doubt equally honest and sincere, and alike desirous for the 

 final triumph of truth. The cautious and prudent may still with- 

 hold their assent from propositions, which their more sanguine 

 brethren consider fairly proved, while the latter are at liberty to go 

 on accumulating the facts upon which the claims of etherization 

 must finally rest. 



Your committee propose to confine their remarks upon this sub- 

 ject mainly to a few points. 



Firstly. — To a brief history of the introduction of ether and 

 chloroform into the practice of surgery. 



Secondly. — To a description of some of the more obvious phe- 

 nomena, which mark their action upon the system. 



Thirdly. — To the results following their use in several large 

 public institutions of the country, and in the private practice of 

 some of our surgeons, who have considerable experience therein. 



The second branch of this inquiry, involving a consideration of 

 the physiological effects of ancesthetic agents, is one of much import- 

 ance, and your committee submit, accompanying this report, and to 

 form a part of it, a paper upon the subject, from a gentleman who 

 has devoted much attention to it. (See C. — 1.) 



