1867. j Richardson's Ether-Spray. 61 



bleeding, which began shortly after the operation was performed, 

 accompanied by some temporary pain, not so acute as the patient 

 had often suffered in the same part, was the only subsequent incon- 

 venience, and the wound healed rapidly. This operation is usually 

 an agonising one, and has hitherto been performed under the 

 influence of chloroform, sometimes with fatal consequences. After- 

 wards, Dr. Richardson applied the spray to the hands of the writer 

 and some of his friends, and it was found to vary in the rapidity 

 with which it took effect. The writer's hand soon became livid, and 

 he has no hesitation in saying, that within a few seconds (say five 

 or six) after the ether was first applied, he could have cut off the 

 part against which the spray had been directed without any sense 

 of pain, for it was as mummified as if it had been buried for thou- 

 sands of years in some catacomb. In less than a minute after the 

 pumping process was discontinued, the circulation was completely 

 restored, and nothing was felt excepting a slight sensation of burning. 



We have given this brief account of the operation of Dr. 

 Richardson's process, as witnessed and experienced by the writer, 

 in preference to quoting cases from hospital reports, as it will 

 convey to the general reader a better idea of its effect than mere 

 quotations in technical language from the medical press ; and, in 

 like manner, it will be as well to state generally for what class of 

 diseases and in what degree it is found to be effective, our informa- 

 tion being derived from the best of all sources — the skilful operator 

 referred to, who is one of the chief surgeons of a leading metro- 

 politan hospital. 



Before doing so, however, let us say a word concerning the 

 apparatus employed ; Dr. Richardson describes the instrument 

 which he now uses, as follows : — 



" The apparatus consists simply of a graduated bottle for 

 holding ether ; through a perforated cork a double tube is inserted, 

 one extremity of the inner part of which goes to the bottom of 

 the bottle. Above the cork a little tube, connected with a hand- 

 bellows, pierces the outer part of the double tube, and communicates 

 by means of the outer part, by a small aperture, with the interior 

 of the bottle. The inner tube for delivering the ether runs upwards 

 nearly to the extremity of the outer tube. Now, when the bellows 

 are worked, a double current of air is produced, one current de- 

 scending and pressing upon the ether, forcing it along the inner 

 tube, and the other ascending through the outer tube, and playing 

 upon the column of ether as it escapes through the fine jet. By 

 having a series of jets to fit on the lower part of the inner tube, the 

 volume of ether can be moderated at pleasure; and by having a 

 double tube for the admission of air, and two pairs of hand-bellows, 

 the volume of ether and of air can be equally increased at pleasure, 

 and with the production of a degree of cold six below zero. 



