228 
G. ARCHIE STOCKWELL. 
instead of being a danger to the animal, proved to be a posi¬ 
tive safeguard, by preventing the absorption of the residual 
chloroform and its distribution through the system (Para¬ 
graph No. 22). 
Morphine appeared * * * to render the rise of blood- 
pressure that occurred when chloroform was discontinued, 
slower and less complete, and to bring about a more or less 
permanent condition of anmsthesia (Paragraph No. 31). 
Chloroform has no power of increasing the tendency to 
either shock or syncope during operations. If shock or 
syncope from any cause does occur, it prevents rather than 
aggravates the dangers of chloroform inhalation (Paragraph 
No. 37). 
The experiments on dogs that had been dosed with phos¬ 
phorus for a few days previously, show that the fatty and 
consequently feeble condition of the heart and other organs 
so produced, have no effect in modifying the action of chlo¬ 
roform. * * * Numerous attempts were made in these 
animals to produce shock by operations in recumbent and 
vertical positions, but without any more result than in those 
that were healthy (Paragraph No. 38). The truth about fatty 
heart appears to be that chloroform per se in no way endan¬ 
gers such a heart; but, on the contrary, by lowering blood- 
pressure, lessens the work the heart has to perform, which is 
a positive advantage. But the mere inhalation of chloroform 
is only a part of the process of administration in practice. A 
patient with an extremely fatty heart may die in mounting 
the steps in front of his own hall door, or from fright at the 
mere idea of having chloroform, or of undergoing an opera¬ 
tion, or during his involuntary struggles. Such patients 
must inevitably die occasionally during chloroform adminis¬ 
tration, and would do so even were attar of roses, or any 
other harmless vapor, substituted for chloroform (Paragraph 
No. 39). 
As regards the effect of chloroform upon different animals, 
it may be said to be the same as far as its anassthetic action is 
concerned (Paragraph No. 42). * * * The cases * * 
* are quite sufficient to show that animals are just as liable 
to death from careless administration of chloroform as human 
beings ; and the accidental deaths which occurred during the 
experiments of the Commission afford the best possible proof 
that the effects of chloroform are identical in the lower ani¬ 
mals and in the human subject. The statement so frequently 
made that dogs are more resistant to chloroform than human 
beings, is entirely incorrect. (3d paragraph under caption of 
Accidental Deaths). 
