The development of inhalation anaesthesia : with special reference to the years 1846-1900... / [Barbara M. Duncum].
- Duncum, Barbara M.
- Date:
- 1947
Licence: In copyright
Credit: The development of inhalation anaesthesia : with special reference to the years 1846-1900... / [Barbara M. Duncum]. Source: Wellcome Collection.
563/664 page 543
![liminary instruction might or might not have been given. The professional anaesthetist did not exist anywhere on the Continent, although some Continental surgeons deeply interested themselves in anaesthesia. In France conditions most nearly approached the Scottish. A surgical assistant of subordinate rank was thoroughly drilled in an inflexible routine, and once he had mastered his duties he continued to act as administrator until it became necessary, for any reason, to replace him by another similarly trained assistant (cf. pp. 16-17, 207). J. A. F. Dastre, Professor of Physiology at the Sorbonne, writing in 1890 stated : ' Abroad, surgeons, particularly those who use ether, willingly employ special inhalers : Clover's [portable] inhaler [masque de Clover), Junker's and Ormsby's apparatuses. In France the vari- ous methods all consist in pouring chloroform on to a compress which is placed in front of the patient's mouth and riostrils, in such a way as to make him breathe air mixed with the anaesthetic vapour. The compress is covered over on one side by a waxed cloth which prevents the surgeon from inhaling as much chloro- form as the patient ; the size of the compress varies ; its approxi- mation to the respiratory orifices also varies ; so does the quantity of chloroform poured on, according to the needs of the operation, the patient's condition and the customary procedure of whoever is administering the anaesthetic agent.1 ' For some years past, surgeons have tended to relieve them- selves of the anxious business of personally superintending the administration of chloroform : they leave this task to an assistant, always the same one, who through constant practice, finally acquires a considerable degree of reliability. Thus, and not unprofitably, a new function has been created, that of chloro- formist {medecin chloroformiseur), lieutenant ad latus to the surgeons in the large towns.'2 As this system was proving reasonably efficient there was no great outcry for reform in anaesthetic education in France at the close of the nineteenth century. 1 Dastre stated : ' Among these methods there are two which merit mention : 1. Procedure by massive doses, or the procedure by sideration ; 2. the dosimetric, or drop method'. He further distinguished between the strong initial dose, dose anesthe'sique, for establishing anaesthesia and the weaker dose, dose d'entretien, for maintaining anaes- thesia. (Dastre, A. 1890. Les anesthe'siques, physiologie et applications chirurgicales. Paris. 103.) 2 Dastre, A. 1890. Les anesthe'siques, physiologie et applications chirurgicales. Paris. 10:.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b20457200_0571.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
