Dropper bottle for chloroform, London, England, 1870-1900
Chloroform was used as an anaesthetic to stop the patient feeling pain during surgery. It was administered by inhalation – a few drops were put on a cloth covering the patient’s nose. Chloroform replaced ether as the favoured anaesthetic (ether caused irritation to the lungs and vomiting). Chloroform was both quicker and easier to use as it did not need to be heated. In 1847, James Young Simpson (1811-1870) became the first surgeon to use chloroform as an anaesthetic during childbirth.
Object number:
A625456
Related Themes and Topics
Glossary:
Glossary: chloroform dropper bottle
bottle used to hold chloroform and administer a small dose
Glossary: inhalation
The drawing of air or other substances into the lungs
Glossary: anaesthetic
An agent that causes insensitivity to pain. Applied to either the whole body (general anaesthetic) or a particular area or region (local anaesthetic).
Glossary: chloroform
A liquid formerly used as a general anaesthetic although no longer used for this purpose as it causes liver damage and affects the heart rate. It is now used in low concentration to treat flatulence.
Glossary: ether
A volatile liquid (resulting from the action of sulphuric acid upon alcohol) formerly used as an anaesthetic. Ether was usually inhaled.