Volume 9b - History of Anaesthesia Society

Drs M Goerig, K Ayisi, J Schulte am Esch (Hmhrg)
Inhalation and intravenous administration of drugs are the main pillars
of general anaesthesia. Wten, a &ination of Mth techniques is used,
minimising side effects and and augmenting beneficial properties of the
aqents .
me modern era of intravenous anaesthesia began in 1871 when the French
surgeon Ore, in Bordeaux, reported the successful administration of
chloral hydrate in anmy1 studies.1 A few years lster he employed the
drug in human binqs. A monograph about this new technique was
rxlblishd by him in 1875 but 4espite encouraging results, the method
fell into disrepute. Thlj canplicatecl technique, coupled with the
ohsemation that t'le therapeutic dosage was close to toxic levels, was
the explanation for this. Nevertheless, with the first attemt made, it
was only a question of time before ot11er researchers in t5is field would
a-ster less toxic drugs intravenously.
Rddnn3tus biqm@xical details
In search of practical
alternatives, Ludwrig Aurkhardt,
a surgeon from IWzhrq, (Figure
1) plblished his first
experience of a new technique.
He favoured the infusion of
chloroform or ether
intravenously.
Pigum 1. Iwdwig Rnkhardt 1872-1924
Bur'khardt was born in lq72 and
graduated in medicine frm
Munich in 1995. At the
Department of PatlioLqy he
became involved in basic
research and on the basis of
thess exceriments, was able to
perform intravenous ether
anaesthesia research by himsalE.
At the beginning of this century
he entered surqicaL training at
the University of IGurzburq, .
where he contin11e-l his
euperiments. He recomne~ed the
method enthusias ticall and
smead its clinical use?-6 In
1913 he was anpointed chaimwi
of the Section of Intravenous