A NEW ANAESTHETIC

Hokitika Guardian, 24 June 1927, Page 4

A NEW ANAESTHETIC

ADVANTAGE OVER CHLOROFORM

Chemists working in the laboratories of the German Dyestuffs Federation have produced a new anaesthetic with very remarkable properties. Alter tt long series of success!ul experiiitens with animals it was used in several clinics under the supervision of Professor Unger and other prominent physicians and surgeons. Ihe results were described at a meeting of the Berlin Medical Association b\ Professor Unger, as well as by six other experts who had tested the now anaesthetic independently of each other.

It is still too early for an absolutely final verdict. The new anaesthetic, which is called E 107. has so far been used in several hundred operations (Professor Unger alone used it in 30!)). It has certain disadvantages which make it undesirable that n

should he placed on the open market or come into general use lor the time being. But these disadvantages have already been countered to some extent and it is hoped that they may he obviated altogether in course of time. The anaesthetic is administered rectaily into the intestine by means of a clyster. Tints there is no need for a mask as when ether or chloroform is administered. The patient loses con-

sciousness in four or five minutes, and is completely under in seven or eight. There are no reflexes, no nervousness, no choking. There is complete relaxation. The pulse is normal (indeed Professor Unger found that an abnormal pulse may become normal under the new anaesthetic and become abnormal again when its effects wearoil). The breathing is like that ol healthy sleep. There is no change in blood pressure. E 107 is suitable for major operations. Tin patient comes to as though awakening troni a piofound sleep and has no feeling ot sickness and does not retch or vomit an after ether or chloroform. The new anaesthetic is (illicitly absorbed by the system, so that within an hour alter it has I'oeen administered no traces can be discovered. It has no ill-elfools oil the heart or kidneys. SUCCESSFUL USE ON ELDERLY

i PEOPLE. I As for its disadvantages, these were found apparently only in isolated cas- ‘ ~s. In several it was found to cause irritation of the intestine, but there K reason to believe that this was due to the fact that it was not fresh when

ml mi list ered. Urnlessor l nger stilted that ill his 801) cases he had invariably taken care to administer E 107 before it had a i bailee to decompose, with the result that he did not discover one instance of intestinal irritation. In a ft w cases the patients developed rather acute cyanosia (defective circulation), so that arOiicial respiration became net cssary.

It is believed that E 107 will perhaps he iuapplii able to a limited num_ her of patients with a certain nervous Yoiis-I it ut ittii. which can. how - ever, he recognised ficloreband. Several patients accustomed to drugs and narcotics were found to resist. E 107.so that tlit- (lose had to he supplemented by a little ether. The new anaesthetic was used very .successfully on elderly people. One ol the medical experts who took part in the discussion said that he had used It with complete success on six patients who wore all over seventy. One of the experts said that a patient cl iiis on coming to declared it was real pleasure to he anaesthetised by E 10 < - E 1117 lias also been sin cessfully used to induce twilight- shop in childbirth.

The general opinion expressed at the meeting was that the new anaesthetic has advantages which lai outweigh its disadvantages, and that in lime it may largely replace ether and chloroform. Its chemical composition is of course being kept secret for the time being.