COMPARATIVE DANGER OF ETHER AND CHLOROFORM. 733 
with, with an especial view of explaining the pulse, and the 
changes it undergoes both in frequency and character, de¬ 
pending on certain morbid states of the system. Besides this, it 
is our intention to direct attention to some of the maladies which 
have their origin in a changed condition of the blood itself.— 
Journal of the Uoyal Agricultural Society , vol. xxi, part i. 
COMPARATIVE DANGER OE ETHER AND CHLOROEORM. 
In a recent discussion which took place on this subject at 
the New York Academy, the eminent physiologist, Dr. Dalton, 
stated that, in his opinion, the cause of death in fatal cases of 
death from inhalation of chloroform is paralysis of the heart. 
He has been led to this conclusion by observing the effects of 
ether and chloroform on animals. If inhalation is carried to 
a moderate extent and the chest of the animal is then opened 
as quickly as possible, the heart will continue to beat for a 
considerable time. If, however, it be pursued until respiration 
is stopped, though the heart may still be found beating, its 
movements will be very feeble. If the anaesthesia be carried 
only to the stoppage of respiration, the animal usually recovers; 
but if, when the respiration ceases, the heart is also still, it 
never does so. Although fatal results have occurred in Dr. 
Dalton’s hands, in experimenting on animals, with both ether 
and chloroform, when inhalation has been pushed to an 
extreme, he has been obliged to take a great deal of pains to 
produce this effect with ether, whereas death often follows the 
use of chloroform, notwithstanding the best precautions. tc I 
think l may say,” he remarks, te without exaggeration, that I 
am thoroughly convinced that there is a radical difference in 
the danger following the administration of these two sub¬ 
stances. I am sure that chloroform is more dangerous to 
animals, at least.” He is of opinion that chloroform should 
be abandoned in favour of ether. 
