Thus, nine drops of croton oil, seventy grains of calomel, two ounces of salts, and one of senna, were taken, and several injections, the warm bath, fomentations, &c., were employed, before relief was obtained. Of these agents, I believe croton oil to have been the most efficacious.

Philadelphia, 1848.

CASES OF HÆMORRHAGE FROM THE UMBILICUS. BY ELIAS J. MARSH, M. D.

In the course of my practice, I have met with two fatal cases, and several very slight ones, of a disease not usually noticed in the books of practice which have fallen under my notice. The disease is hæmorrhage from the umbilicus, after the separation of the cord. In the fatal cases of which I speak, compression, astringents, and escharotics were employed, but to no good purpose; in one case, the twisted suture was used by a physician, but with the same result. Local applications, mild and severe, appeared to have no control over the hæmorrhage. In these cases, the skin and conjunctiva assumed a deep icteric hue; it was not the usual ieterus mentarum, which probably depends upon some change in the condition of the blood in the cutaneous capillaries, but a true jaundice.

I attribute the disease to some obstruction in the liver, which prevents the normal circulation of the blood throughout that viscus, and forces that fluid in a refluent course through the unobliterated umbilical vessels. Acting upon these pathological views, in one or two slight cases of similar hæmorrhage, I have adopted the practice of free purging, with apparent good effect; whether it would answer in the severer forms of the disease, I cannot say, but it may be worth the trial, as local applications are entirely useless. As the disease appears to be of rare occurrence, I have thought that this brief notice may not be without interest to some of your readers.

Paterson, March, 1848.

HISTORY OF CHLOROFORM.

BY J. B. WARRINER, M. D.

"Honor to whom honor is due."

As some have given credence to the belief that this substance is a recent discovery, I have thought that perhaps a short history of it might be interesting to some of your readers.

All that can be claimed as new about it, is its use for annulling pain in surgical operations. Without deciding positively, who was the first discoverer of this interesting agent, allow me to extract a few paragraphs from an article published in Silliman's Journal of Science for 1832, and written by Samuel Guthrie, of Sackett's Harbor, N. Y., then a young man, and self taught, who certainly deserves the credit of contributing to the discovery of the present improved mode of preparing the article. But, before I proceed, I will quote from Silliman's Elements of Chemistry, the passage which Mr. Guthrie says, first directed his attention to the subject, it is as follows: Article on Chloric Ether, (as it was then called.)

"Properties.-Resembles an oil; color yellowish, but white when purified; sinks in water in distinct globules, which readily run together. Specific gravity at 45° 1. 22. By much agitation, is diffused in the water and partially dissolved, imparting to the water its own peculiar taste, which is sweetish, aromatic, and agreeable. Taken internally, it is stimulating and reviving.

"This ether is usually formed by mingling equal volumes of Chlorine and Olefiant Gas, both of which are speedily condensed into the fluid form, but the process is troublesome, as only a small volume of fluid is obtained from a large volume of the Gases.

"I have suggested that it might prove a valuable medicine." "I am not aware, however, that this trial had been any where made, and probably the subject would have still slumbered, had it not been for the very ingenious, and as far as I know, the original process of Mr. Guthrie." (Professor Silliman, 1852.)

Mr. Guthrie directs as follows:

"Into a clean copper still, put three pounds of chloride of lime, and two gallons of well flavored alcohol, specific gravity .844, and

distil.

If more chloride of lime be used, the etherial product will be increased; nor is it necessary that the proof of the spirits should be very high, but I have commonly used the above proportions and proof, and have every reason to be satisfied with them.

By re-distilling from carbonate of potash, the product is concentrated and refined."

"This ether may be entirely, or very nearly so, separated from alcohol, by repeated rectifications from muriate of lime; (chloride of calcium) it may thus be brought to the specific gravity of 1. 44, but I have found no agent for that purpose, comparable with strong sulphuric acid. Distilled off sulphuric acid, it has a specific gravity of 1.486, or a little greater, and may then be regarded as free from alcohol; and if a little sulphuric acid, which sometimes contaminates it, be removed by washing it with a strong solution of carbonate of potash, it may then be regarded as absolutely pure. In this state it boils at 160°, has a specific gravity of 1.486; at 60° is extremely volatile, diffuses upon the tongue and fauces, a powerful ethereal odor, and excites to an intense degree, its peculiar scent and aromatic taste."

Let me here give Prof. Simpson's receipt for preparing the chloroform.

Take 26lbs. 9oz. 4dr. 20grs. of chloride of lime, dilute it carefully with 160lbs. 9oz. 2dr. of water, fill a brass still up to twothirds only, with the calcareous milk which results from this combination; add 5lbs. 4oz. 2dr. of alcohol-distil. The product is chloroform mixed with alcohol and tainted with a little chlorine. The chloroform is separated by decantation, and washed with water, then with a weak solution of carbonate of potass.: add chloride of calcium (muriate of lime,) and distil by means of a water bath. M. Sonberian thinks that for medical use, it is superfluous to rectify anew, by sulphuric acid. We can here see that the two processes only differ by the addition of water to the chloride of lime, before adding the alchol They both make the same product. It is chloroform which results from either.

Mr. Gurthrie adds:

"During the last six months, a great number of persons have drunk of this ether in my laboratory, not only very freely, but frequently to the point of intoxication; and so far as I have observed, it has appeared to be singularly grateful both to the palate and stomach, producing promptly, a lively flow of animal spirits and consequent loquacity; and leaving after its operation, 'little of that depression consequent on the use of ardent spirits.

"From the invariably agreeable effects of it on persons in health, and the deliciousness of its flavor, it would seem to promise much as a remedy in cases requiring a safe, quick, energetic, and palatable stimulus. For drinking, it requires an equal bulk of water."

Mr. Guthrie sent a quantity of this ether to Prof. Eli Ives, of New Haven, that he might test its virtue as a remedial agent. Also, to Dr. Nathan B. Ives, the Professor's son.

The following is Prof. Eli Ives's statement.

"Dear Sir-I have witnessed the effect of the ether with which you were so kind as to furnish me, and in some instances where you had furnished individuals who wished to try its effect. I have given it to a female sixty years of age, who had been subject to severe paroxysms of pain in the chest, and difficulty of breathing, called asthma. The paroxysm for which I gave the ether, was thought more severe than any she had had before; she took the remedies as she had ordinarily taken them, previous to the use of the ether, without very obvious effect. The ether was given in doses of half a teaspoonful, once in two hours, for twelve hours. It was given in the course of the night, and in the morning the patient was very much relieved; more suddenly than she had been in any previous illness of the kind. The patient and the friends, attributed the speedy and effectual relief to the ether. It appeared to me, that the ether was the efficient article that had produced the relief.

"Mr. D. W. with pulmonic disease, has inhaled the ether to obviate general debility and difficult respiration. The article has been effectual to obviate those symptoms; its immediate effect, besides giving relief, is that of giving a pleasant sensation. I have given the ether to children in the ulcerated sore throat. A child of Mr. P. was attacked with ulcerated sore throat (called scarlet fever; Rosalia of Dr. Good;) this child died on the fifth day. This child took no ether, indeed, it was so deranged that it was difficult to administer any medicines. A brother of the same child, attacked with similar disease, had deep ulcers in the throat, and high fever, with derangement. The ether was given every two hours, in doses of thirty drops, diluted with an ounce of water; the child was at all times ready to take this medicine, and it was continued until the fever abated. The child began to mend after the fifth day. The ether was thought to allay the irritation in the nervous system, abate the heat of the skin, and to have a good effect upon the ulcers in the throat. This patient recovered very rapidly.

"I have given the ether in several other cases of scarlet fever, in cases of adults, giving it in doses of a teaspoonful, diluted with water. I have been pleased with the operation of this ether; it is diffusible in its action, like the other ethers, and has this advantage over them, that it is always grateful. I have known no child refuse it. Yours &c.

January 2d, 1832.

E. IVES."

N. B. "The last vial you furnished me, I gave to a female fifty years of age who has been affected with paroxysms of asthma for more than twenty years. I have seen the patient but once since the medicine was given, when she was evidently better, and said she thought the medicine had done her good. I have used the ether for spasmodic cough, and am so much satisfied with the beneficial effect of the remedy in such cases, that I shall use it more extensively as soon as I shall be able to furnish myself with a quantity of it. E. I."

Statement of Dr. N. B. Ives.

"Dear Sir-I have been much pleased with the effects of the "chloric ether" with which I was favored through your kindness. The first case in which I administered it, was in that of Mr. Coffing, who was severely ill with atonic quipsey-he was unable to swallow. The ether was injected by means of a syringe, with the happiest effect. After using the syringe he was able to swallow, and took the same article internally, with benefit. I have also witnessed its beneficial effect in pneumonic cases.

Respectfully yours,

NATHAN B. IVES."

By the above extract we perceive that this very chloroform was made by a young man at Sackett's Harbor, N. Y., and used by Prof. Ives in New Haven sixteen years ago, and what seems remarkable, it was made by so similar a process. The report of the Drs. Ives corroborates what I have seen in the few trials I have known, of it being used as an internal remedy. I have taken it but once in my own case, and that was for sick headache. I took fifteen drops in some water which relieved my head at once: also in one case of dismenorrhea, it seemed to relieve the pain speedi ly. The patient was subject to very severe pain during every return of her menses, and generally took camphor to relieve it; but she expressed herself as being more speedily and effectually relieved by the ether, than ever she had been by the camphor. Her case was called by her physician, a neuralgia of the uterus.

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