ON ANESTHETICS. 269 



uniform, continuous, and regulated administration of chloroform vapour 

 between the limits of 1 and 2 per cent. 



The Committee find that the most convenient and reliable method 

 of ascertaining the percentage of chloroform in air consists in directly 

 ascertaining on a balance the difference of weight between two identical 

 counterpoised bulbs, A filled with air, B filled with the mixture to be 

 titrated. 



As regards the production of anaesthesia by ether vapour, the Com- 

 mittee are of opinion that the clinical experience obtained with an 

 unknown percentage of ether vapour requires to be complemented by 

 the scientific knowledge of the percentages of ether and air that may be 

 necessary and sufficient. It has initiated experiments upon animals, 

 from which the provisional conclusion is drawn that a mixture composed 

 of approximately one volume of ether vapour and nine volumes of air 

 should be safe and sufficient for the production of surgical anaesthesia. 



Comparative experiments have been undertaken for the Committee 

 by Drs. Veley and Waller during the past year on local anaesthetics. 

 The first results have been published in the Proceedings of the Eoyal 

 Society x on the comparative action of stovaine and cocaine as measured 

 by their direct effect upon the contractility of isolated muscle. Further 

 observations have been made by Dr. Veley and Mr. Symes on the effects 

 of stovaine and cocaine, the results of which will, it is hoped, shortly 

 be published. 



Dr. Buckmaster and Mr. Gardner have pursued their investigation 

 on ' The Rate of Assumption of Chloroform by the Blood ' (Appen- 

 dix II.), and, arising out of this investigation, have undertaken an 

 elaborate examination into the blood-gases, the results of which will 

 be published in due course. 



Drs. Hewitt and Waller (Appendix III.) bring forward definite 

 experimental evidence that the effect of chloroform is aggravated by 

 sub-oxygenation, and attenuated by hyper-oxygenation. 



The Committee have co-opted Dr. V. H. Veley as a member, and 

 ask to be reappointed. The work contemplated for the ensuing year 

 comprises : — 



1. On the clinical side: the practical application to hospital purposes 

 of the chloroform-balance. 



2. On the scientific side: the further study of the distribution of 

 chloroform in the blood and tissues during life and after death, and of 

 the comparative power of various local anaesthetics. 



In conclusion, the Committee think fit to call attention to the fact 

 that the importance of the questions involved is such that during the 

 past year resolutions have been adopted by the General Medical Council 

 and by the Council of the British Medical Association in support of early 

 legislation to secure better regulation of the administration of general 

 anaesthetics, and that the recent report 2 of a Departmental Committee 

 of the Home Office lays special stress upon the need of careful clinical 

 observation controlled by physiological experiments. 



] B, vol. lxxxii., p. 147, 1909. 



a Report of Inquiry into the Question of Deaths resulting from the Administration 

 of Anaesthetics. Presented to Parliament by command of his Majesty. Maroh 18, 1910. 

 1910. S T 



