1879.] 
Safe Anaesthesia. 
179 
Methyl chloride (CH 3 C 1 ), which boils at the ordinary 
temperature, was obtained in alcoholic solution in a sealed 
tube, and allowed to boil off into a funnel, into which the 
muzzle of a rabbit was inserted. After somewhat prolonged 
use, there was not any abolition of reflex aCtion, and the 
animal almost immediately recovered. The only effeCt was 
slight drowsiness. 
Ethyl chloride (C 2 H 5 C 1 ) boiling at 12 deg. C. = 53*6 deg. 
Fahr., administered to rabbits in the same way as the above, 
produced rapid anaesthesia ; but in one case the respirations 
soon stopped, and in another, when air was admitted more 
freely, general convulsions occurred. 
Nitrous ethyl ether (C 2 H 5 N 0 2 ) produced great excitement 
and convulsions, almost immediately followed by cessation 
of respiration. 
It is obvious that none of these substances would take the 
place of chloroform, but the committee experimented with 
isobutyl chloride and ethidene dichloride, with which they 
obtained comparatively successful results. They thus describe 
their experiments with these agents : — 
Isobutyl chloride (C 5 H 9 C 1 ). — 1. Experiments on the frog. 
When it was administered under a glass jar, complete 
anaesthesia occurred in about five minutes. The heart was 
observed for thirty-five minutes, during which period its con- 
tractions were perfectly vigorous. 
2. Experiments on rabbits. When it was administered 
with a cloth, anaesthesia was produced in three to five 
minutes. It was continued after anaesthesia for nearly half- 
an-hour without any interference with respiration. — 3. Ex- 
periments on dogs. It was administered on cloth ; anaesthesia 
was produced in four minutes. It was continued for half-an- 
hour, and respiration was unaffected, except slight occasional 
stertor. 
Ethidene dichloride (C 2 H 4 C 1 2 , an isomeride of ethene- 
dichloride, produced from aldehyde). The committee have 
administered dichloride of ethidene to six patients in the 
Western Infirmary of Glasgow, with most satisfactory results. 
The first case was that of a young man aged eighteen, who 
had an abscess opened near the hip-joint. The anaesthetic 
was given at 9.19 a.m. ; at 9.27, there was complete anaesthe- 
sia ; the operation began at 9.29, and was completed at 9.32, 
the patient waking up at 9.35. The recovery was rapid, and 
there was no vomiting, sickness, or headache. About half 
an ounce of the substance was used. 
In the second case a girl aged thirteen was operated upon, 
who had abscesses in the thigh, from spinal disease. One 
