Page 417 - My FlipBook
P. 417
—;;




ETHER—CHLOROFORM. 413

will be suggested by the indications already referred

to, and, if these are unfavorable, should be determined
at once. Mere nausea, however, without any other
unfavorable symptom, is not a counter-indication in
the use of ether or chloroform.
The method of administering chloroform is the
same as that for ether, except that, in the use of the
former, more care and closer observation are required.
Chloroform is more rapid and powerful in its action

than ether, and hence more liable to do injury ; but,
independently of this fact, it is generally believed
that the former is less safe than the latter, when
taken into the system, especially by inhalation. A

mixture of ether and chloroform, or chloric ether
usually equal parts of chloroform and ether, but the

proportions are sometimes varied -is used by some
the object being to secure greater promptness than
with ether alone, and incur less danger than with
chloroform ; and it is probable that a mutual compen-

sation in these respects is thus to be attained.
If either chloroform or ether has been administered
to entire unconsciousness, the patient should be per-
mitted to pass out of the condition spontaneously
for, after such a revival, there will be less liability to
unpleasant feelings, as headache, depression, and
nausea. The fingers of the person administering the
chloroform should be kept on the carotid, since the
   412   413   414   415   416   417   418   419   420   421   422