DEATHS UNDER CHLOROFORM.

Putaruru Press, Volume IV, Issue 126, 1 April 1926, Page 3

DEATHS UNDER CHLOROFORM.

FIGURES DIFFICULT TO DISPROVE. It has been said, that 85 per cent of patients who die under an anaesthetic snccumb as the result of the administration of the anaesthetic. When this contention was made to the director of public health (Dr Dick), in Sydney recently, he said it was impossible to either prove or disjprove such a statement. At first mention “85 per cent” would seem rather alarming, even if it could be proved an over-statement. However, diligent search through mortality statistics and inquiry at the Health and Government Statistician’s Departments indicate that fatalities are so rare that no specific record, is kept of them. Nevertheless, they occur, it is proved, from time to time, in the coronial courts.

It is apparently the custom of doctors to attribute such deaths to an original disease or complaint, even when the symptoms indicate asphyxia or strangulation as the result of the chloroform or either.

“ Supposing,” Dr Dick was asked, “a man should die under the anaesthetic while having a fractured arm or a broken leg set —would not the anaesthetic be the primary cause of death in that case?”

The doctor was not sure. Quite a number of reasons might have contributed to the fatal outcome of that operation. The patient might have had a weak heart. There might have been an obstruction in the throat. Shock might even have killed, him. “ However,” the doctor added, " we will see what the Government statistician’s office has to say about it.” A somewhat cryptic telephone conversation followed with an official in the department on facts and figures; and, finally, with a laugh, the doctor

put down the receiver. “ A case such as you have outlined,” he said, “ would be noted under the heading of death by violence.” He pointed out that though many thousands of operations were performed every year, both in Sydney of a death which could be correctly and the country, he hardly ever heard ascribed to the administration of an anaesthetic. So careful were practitioners nowadays, and so efficient were they in the use of chloroform, that the collapse of a patient under anaesthetic was either due to accident or to purely physical causes, which were sometimes impossible to guard against. “It might be correct to say that 85 perv cent, of persons who die under chloroform die as the result of the ad-

linistration of the drug, but I do not link so,” Dr. Dick concluded. “My xperience and the records of the hos-

pitals show that the proportion is so small as to he negligible.” Those who have an exaggerated fear of the operating theatre, therefore can derive comfort from the knowledge that, if they d.o not survive their operation, it will not be the anaesthetic which would kill them.