Correspondence.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XI, Issue 644, 8 January 1859, Page 5

Correspondence.

To the Editor of, the LyUclton Times.

Str,—The case of the poor child who lost his life from the use of chloroform at the Eye Infirmary in London has naturally excited oonsiderahlo sensation and alarm. The use, however, of a preparation which has proved so great a boon to mankind in general' in alleviating, or rather obviating, so large an amount of suffering, is not to be discarded oh

account of one, or indeed of several such mischances. It becomes therefore of some importance? that those who have to employ it should be prepared to do what a littLv reflection may suggest in such cases, instead of staring at each other in stupid amazement and lamenting the sad result. / Sensation and volition depend on the nervous system, or; to speak more precisely, on the" brain, which is the heart of that system. Besides'these!! it is the brain which also maintains tho respiration! In sloop we have a familiar example of the continuance of this latter function, while sensation and volition, arc suspended. Chloroform induces a similar condition; it produces a sleep so sound that no: amount of pain can disturb it; hence its value. Wo thus sec and understand that a certain impression may be made on the brain, which, although it suspends sensation and volition, is quite compatible with life so long as respiration continues. We can infer that a greater, degree of impression may stop respiration and cause death. In the case in question, the child was frightened at seeing another led i out of the operating room with the blood streaming from his eyes, so that in his case the chloroform was applied to a nervous system already depressed by fear—that is, to a brain already acting-feebly—and in consequence of this the action of the brain, instead' of being only partially suspended, was stopped en- ' tireiy. We are thus enabled very clearly to com-' prebend how it comes to pass that the use of chloroform may be occasionally: fatal.. The next question is, what good do we get by following up such a ' train of thought? • : First, it shows, us that the use of ehlorofoiim is safe in healthypersons, that is, in whom the brain is acting.vigorously.: , ' ' • ■<■ Secondly, knowing that its effect is only temporary, that it does no {permanent harm either to the brain or to the ,blood, it becomes obvious that the one thing needful in such an emergency is to make use of artificial respiration, that is, to blow up the lungs for a, few;'minute's, until the brain recovers sufficiently to perform this function for itself, which it will do as surely as recovery has. taken place after immersion in water or' foul air; nay, far more surely, because the circumstances being all under control, no time need be lost. " '

Thirdly, we learn that in the order of tangible occurrences which bring on the state we call death, the stoppage of the respiration is the : first to happen. This is a point of great importance, because, as,the pulse will'continue to beat a minute or more after respiration has ceased, if the pulse only were attended to, as appears to have been the case at the Eye Infirmary, this minute would be lost, and that loss might make all the difference between success and failure. It is one thing to maintain the heart's action, and another to restore it after it has ceased. It is scarcely necessary to observe in conclusion, that in such energetic cases promptitude is everything, and that no one can be prompt, unless by previous thought and consideration of what is required, he be prepared, by knowing what to do. I have the honor to.be, sir,. ■ ' Your'obedient servant, J. W.EARLE. Grange Farm, Heathcote River, Jan. 6,' 1859.

According, to a- statement from a Mr: T. P. Shaffner, in the New York Papers, the. Emperor of Russia four years, back resolved upon the formation of a telegraph line from St. Petersburg to the Russian possessions in North America, and thence to San Francisco. Its course was to be from St. Petersburg to Moscow, thence across the Ural Mountains into Asia, passsing through • Irkutsk to the Sea of Okhotsk, and thence from Kamtschatka across the Sea of Kamtschatka to Cook's Inlet, in Russian America. This line, by a connexion with the river. Amour and Mantchouria, would bring St._ Petersburg and; Pekiri into: direct communication. -, > ,