Introduction - Uppsala Monitoring Centre

The UK House of Commons Select Committee on Adulteration of
Food, Drinks and Drugs discussed adulteration of chloroform, opium,
scammony, etc. (Abraham, 1995).
1857 Claude Bernard wrote ‘Leçons sur les effets des substances toxique
et médicamenteuses’ [Lessons on the effects of toxic and medical
substances] in which he dealt with sulfocyanine de potassium
(KCNS), oxide de carbone (CO) and curare. He tried the latter on
rabbits, frogs and dogs, but said that it was innocuous by mouth
(Bernard, 1857). Claude Bernard and Francois Magendie made
great advances in the science of clinical pharmacology. Apparently
early in his life he took a job with a pharmacist who had a ‘Theriac
jar’ and whenever a drug fell into disuse it was added to the ‘Theriac
jar’. The latter retained its therapeutic properties despite its ever
changing contents.
‘Notwithstanding the extreme subtlety of the aether, it is perfectly
innocent and safe to take, as it contains nothing that is acrimonious
or corrosive; so that it may be given even to the youngest children
without hesitation. It neither purges nor vomits; nor does it increase
any of the sensible evacuations, except that of urine, and sometimes
that of sweat, if taken when in be; To apply it externally, you must
procure a bit of linen rag, of such a dimension as to be conveniently
covered by the palm of the hand; moisten this rag with a little of the
aether as it lies upon your palm, and instantly apply it to the part
affected, pressing it very close, so as to prevent the escape of its
fumes, for two or three minutes. The general dose for a grown
person is a common tea spoonful; and the best vehicle to take it in is
a draught of cold water. If it be only stirred, in the water with the
spoon, and the mixture drank immediately it strikes the nostrils by its
volatility.’ (http://www.gutenberg.net) Title: An Account of the
Extraordinary Medicinal Fluid, called Aether. (Matthew Turner;
Crockett, 1857).
1858 John Snow pointed out in ‘Chloroform and other anaesthetics’ that ‘in
recorded cases of fatal inhalation of chloroform none of them have
taken place in a gradual manner, but that in all cases the fatal
symptoms, if not the actual death, have come on very suddenly.’ ...
‘Occasional sequelae of the inhalation of Chloroform: sickness,
faintness, depression (more in the feeble and disabled), hysteria,
death coming on very suddenly.’
‘The Dispensatory of the United States of America’ by George Wood
and Frankilin Bache, 11th edition 1858, 1st edition 1833.