248 
CHLOROFORM IN TETANUS. 
fore, to afford a fair statement of all the effects I can glean in 
connexion with my own experiment, and leave it to others to 
determine whether the fault is in the agent or in our applica- 
tion of it. 
From all I have seen, heard, and read upon the effects of the 
inhalation of chloroform in the horse, one point is proved, viz. 
that its primary action is excitant ; all concur in the statement 
that spasmodic muscular action is almost synchronous with the 
application of the sponge : perseverance with the vapour, how- 
ever, is attended by a removal of these symptoms before 
anaesthesia is complete. The primary excitement, though un- 
doubtedly an evil, was not looked upon as grave. How far this 
property militates against its employment in tetanus we pro- 
ceed to inquire. The first recorded case I can discover is from 
the pen of Mr. W. Field, in The Veterinarian for 1848, 
page 134. Speaking of the action of chloroform, he remarks, 
in conclusion, that he tried it upon a hopeless case of tetanus 
with doubtful result : “ its inhalation roused the patient and 
threw him for the space of a minute or two into a state of 
frantic excitement ; then he fell, became insensible, exhibiting 
relaxation of his spasmodic limb, collapse of his nostrils, dilata- 
tion of his pupils, &c., and in this state of relaxation from spasm 
and total unconsciousness, he breathed his last.” I was read- 
ing this case on the afternoon of Wednesday, Feb. 21, 1849. 
A case of tetanus, by no means extreme or hopeless, was in the 
infirmary. The temptation was too strong ; and, whether in 
obedience to the suggestions of my good or evil genius I know 
not, I rushed out of the room, with the bottle in one hand and 
sponge in the other. To apply it to the animal’s nostrils was 
the work of a moment. I have no words with which to convey 
an idea of the result. To say, with Mr. Field, that the inhala- 
tion threw the patient into a state of frantic excitement, is all I 
can attempt — the imagination that can conceive such a picture 
of tremendous agony must be vivid. He shortly fell ; the in- 
halation was perseveringly continued, but water would have 
been, equally energetic in its action : after three hours unsuc- 
cessfully occupied in attempts to relieve the animal’s suffering, 
humanity dictated the necessity of destroying him. I spoke to 
Professor Spooner upon the subject a day or two subsequently, 
and was by him informed, that the use of chloroform in tetanus 
had been abandoned by him from the observance of the effect I 
have described. 
It is scarcely a subject of wonder, that, under invariable 
failures, I felt little inclined to proceed further ; but a circum- 
stance occurred that revived my blunted expectations. On the 
31st August 1849, two valuable puppies, six weeks old, were 
