324 INORGANIC AGENTS 



in small doseSj but after long continued inhalation, or when large quan- 

 tities have been swallowed, depression and paralysis of the respiratory 

 centre ensues. Since asphyxia leads to inhibition and heart failure — 

 besides being dangerous in itself — the respiration should always be 

 watched as carefully during chloroform as in ether inhalation. 



Nervous System. — Chloroform depresses the nervous system as de- 

 scribed under ether j that is, the cerebrum, sensory and motor spinal 

 tract, and sensory and motor centres of the medulla. Chloroform, al- 

 though generally following the order noted, affects the nervous system 

 more rapidly, irregularly and persistently than ether, and therefore is 

 more dangerous. It occasionally happens that some of the reflexes are 

 abolished by chloroform before sensation has been annulled, and irrita- 

 tion of a sensory nerve produced during operation may reflexly stimulate 

 the inhibitory centres (instead of increasing vascular tension as in 

 health), and so cause heart failure. Operations should never be per- 

 formed, therefore, under chloroform until complete anesthesia is se- 

 cured. The nerves are not influenced by the constitutional action of 

 chloroform, although the latter is a local irritant and anesthetic to them. 

 Temperature. — The temperature is reduced by the continual inhala- 

 tion of chloroform through its depressing action on the heat producing 

 centres, and because heat loss is increased by evaporation of chloroform 

 from the lungs. 



Antiseptic Action. — Chloroform prevents the growth of micro-organ- 

 isms, but does not influence that of the unorganized digestive ferments. 

 Chloroform's antiseptic properties may be utilized in preserving solu- 

 tions for subcutaneous injection. Saturated aqueous solutions are used 

 for this purpose. 



Metabolism. — Death occasionally follows chloroformization from 

 fatty degeneration of the heart, liver and kidneys. Chloroform leads 

 to imperfect oxidation through destructive changes in the liver, with 

 decrease in storage of glycogen and the appearance in the urine of 

 sugar, acetone, and cystin, leucin or tyrosin. This form of poisoning, 

 occurring from 1 to 4 days after anesthesia, is seen more often in cats. 

 Death occurs in coma in acetone poisoning from chloroform, as happens 

 in diabetes mellitus. 



Elimination. — Chloroform is chiefly eliminated by the lungs and 

 slightly by the kidneys, but is also decomposed in part in the body. 



Uses External. — Chloroform is employed in liniment to relieve pain 

 and produce counter-irritation in muscular rheumatism and strains. It 

 preserves urine in one-half per cent, strength. 



Uses Internal. — Chloroform is of service internally in the treatment 

 of six conditions: 1. Intestinal colic, and flatulence. 2. Spasm, as 

 in spasm of the diaphragm in horses. Chloroform inhalation is the best 

 treatment for eclampsia in suckling bitches. In strychnine poisoning the 

 same treatment is indicated. 3. Diarrhea. 4. Cough. 6. Anti- 

 emetic, for controlling vomiting in dogs or cats, 1 dram of chloroform 

 water hourly. 6. Parasitic infestation. Full doses in castor oil for 

 round worms. Chloroform alleviates pain in colic by restoring the func- 

 tions of the nervous and muscular mechanism of the bowels, by reliev- 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



