A lecture introductory to the course of materia medica and general therapeutics, in the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia : delivered October 10, 1855 / by Robert M. Huston.

  • Huston, Robert M. (Robert Mendenhall), 1795-1864.
Date:
1855
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A lecture introductory to the course of materia medica and general therapeutics, in the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia : delivered October 10, 1855 / by Robert M. Huston. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    (and plastic operations about the face are always severe,) and re- gards it as having decided advantages on these accounts over sul- phuric ether. This appears to be the prevailing opinion among British hospital surgeons with regard to the relative advantages of these two anae- sthetic agents. They prefer the chloroform, not merely on these accounts, but they allege that patients recover more promptly and completely from its effects than from the ether. One thing, I think, is undeniable, that, in British practice, they are more successful with chloroform than the practitioners of this country. Whether this is owing to the reason assigned by Dr. Simpson, or to other causes not yet ascertained, it seems incumbent on us to find out. It certainly is not for want of skill on the part of American sur- geons, but must arise from some difference in the articles used, or in their manner of administration. The mode employed in giving the article by the British, so far as I could learn, is precisely the same as practised with us, that is, by pouring the medicine on a pocket handkerchief, and holding it over the mouth and nose, renewing it from time to time, until a sufficient effect is produced. Of this, they judge by the state of the respira- tion and the condition of the pupil of the eye, and seem to pay little attention to the effects on the pulse. One other circumstance is deserving of remark. The British use chloroform with a confidence, and to an extent far greater than is customary with us. I do not say this to persuade my countrymen to be guilty of a want of care, but to impress them with the im- portant fact, that, although the first to use anaesthetics, we are, nevertheless, behind our English brethren in a complete know- ledge of their true character, and the extent of their usefulness. We are apt, in this country, to consider the profession in Europe as greatly in advance of us in the learning and educational advan- tages they possess. In this respect, distance lends enchantment to the view; a nearer inspection, however, dispels the delusion. The sources of this error are several fold. 1st. They who visit Europe are, for the most part, very young members of the profession, whose inexperience, with even the actual progress of medicine in their own country, makes them but poorly qualified for forming a judgment of the relative condition by well- considered comparison. 2d. The publications which are put forth by the different colleges and licensing bodies, especially in Great Britain, setting forth the