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Proceedings of the Royal Society 
son resumed his experiments, aided by his two friends and assist- 
ants, Drs Keith and Matthews Duncan — 
“ Having inhaled several substances, but without much effect, it occurred 
to the Professor to try a ponderous material, which he had formerly set aside 
on a lumber table, and which, on account of its weight, he had hitherto re- 
garded as of no likelihood whatever. That happened to be a small bottle of 
chloroform. It was searched for and recovered from beneath a heap of waste 
paper. With each tumbler newly charged, the inhalers resumed their voca- 
tion. Immediately an unwonted hilarity seized the party. They became 
bright-eyed, very happy, and very loquacious — expatiating on the delicious 
aroma of the new fluid. The conversation was of unusual intelligence, and 
quite charmed the listeners — some ladies of the family, and a naval officer, 
brother-in-law of Dr Simpson. But suddenly there were sounds like those of 
a cotton mill, louder and louder. A moment more, then all was quiet ; and 
then — a crash. On awaking, Dr Simpson’s first perception was mental. 
‘ This is far stronger and better than ether,’ said he to himself. His second 
was, to note that he was prostrate on the floor, and that among the friends 
about him there was confusion and alarm. Hearing a noise, he turned round 
and saw Dr Duncan beneath a chair, his jaw dropped, his eyes staring, his 
head bent half under him, — quite unconscious, and snoring in a most deter- 
mined manner. More noise still, and much motion, caused by Dr Keith’s 
legs making valorous efforts to overturn the supper-table. By and bye, Dr 
Simpson having regained his seat, Dr Duncan having finished his uncom- 
fortable slumber, and Dr Keith having come to an arrangement with the 
table, the sederunt was resumed. Each expressed himself delighted with the 
new agent, and its inhalation was repeated many times that night — one of 
the ladies gallantly taking her place at the table — until the supply of chloro- 
form was exhausted. In none of these subsequent inhalations, however, was 
the experiment pushed to unconsciousness. The first event had quite satisfied 
them of the agent’s full power in that way. The festivities on the occasion 
did not terminate till three in the morning.” 
Such is the graphic account given by the late Professor Miller of 
the way in which Simpson discovered the properties of chloroform 
vapour. The value of the discovery depends upon the superiority 
of chloroform to sulphuric ether, the anaesthetic previously employed 
in medical practice; and its superiority was manifested thus, viz. — 
1st. That a much less quantity of chloroform answered ; — 2d. That 
insensibility came on more rapidly ; — 3^. That no special instru- 
ment for its administration was required ; — 4 th. That the odour 
was more agreeable. 
On the 8th November 1847, this new anaesthetic was employed 
by Professor Simpson in a case of labour for the first time, and 
with complete success. It soon became known in the profession, 
