Part 9

A CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OF CHIEF EVENTS AND DISCOVERIES IN THE HISTORY OF ANÆSTHESIA

NITROUS OXIDE

Joseph Priestley 1776 Humphry Davy 1800 Horace Wells (Colton, Riggs, Evans, Best) 1844

ALCOHOL

Collier 1835–42

ETHER

Michael Faraday 1818 W. E. Clarke 1839 Crawford W. Long 1842 E. E. Marcy 1844 W. T. G. Morton 1846 Charles T. Jackson 1846 First surgical operation in America October 16, 1846 First surgical operation in Great Britain December 21, 1846

(Warren, Hayward, Bigelow, Boote, Robinson, Liston, Buchanan, Louget, Snow, Simpson, Bernard, Clover)

CHLOROFORM

Guthrie 1831 Waldie 1847 James Young Simpson 1847 First surgical operation under chloroform, in Edinburgh November 15, 1847

(Soubeiran, Liebig, Dumas, Flourens, M. Duncan, G. Keith, Snow, Nunneley, James Arnott)

COCAINE

Gädeke 1855 Hughes Bennett 1874 Von Anrep 1880 Koller 1884

‘WELLCOME’ BRAND CHLOROFORM

‘Wellcome’ Brand Chloroform represents the results of the most recent researches. It embodies the essentials of purity and uniformity, the necessary basis of a satisfactory chloroform. Some chloroforms which satisfy official standards have yet been shown to vary in composition and in effect, the result depending on the occurrence in the preparation of a small and varying quantity of ethyl chloride. ‘Wellcome’ Brand Chloroform is of constant composition and gives uniform effects. It conforms in every respect to the requirements of the B.P., and contains a small and definite proportion of ethyl chloride, which has been found to assist the satisfactory induction of anæsthesia.

‘Wellcome’ Brand Chloroform is the result of prolonged laboratory experiment and careful clinical observation. Its reception by the profession verifies the theory upon which its production is based. It has been largely used in hospital and in private practice, and with gratifying results. Reports from most experienced anæsthetists agree in regarding ‘Wellcome’ Brand Chloroform as a distinct advance. Its constancy in composition gives confidence in administration, and its freedom from irritating and depressant principles removes the source of many of the accidents which have hitherto been regarded as grave objections to the employment of chloroform as an anæsthetic.

‘Wellcome’ Brand Chloroform is issued in 2 oz., 1/4 lb., 1/2 lb. and 1 lb. amber-coloured bottles; also in 30 c.c. and 60 c.c. hermetically-sealed tubes, as illustrated on the previous page.

‘WELLCOME’ BRAND ETHER

‘Wellcome’ Brand Ether is prepared specially for anæsthesia and is thoroughly pure and reliable. When the administration of ether is desired, this product will be found eminently suitable.

The method of packing in hermetically-sealed tubes is especially desirable with such a volatile substance as ether, and the shape of the glass tube admits of the contents being readily transferred to the graduated bottles usually employed.

‘Wellcome’ Brand Ether conforms to the requirements of the British Pharmacopœia for Æther Purificatus, and has a specific gravity of 0·720.

‘Wellcome’ Brand Ether is issued in hermetically-sealed tubes containing 30 c.c. and 60 c.c., similar to the Chloroform packing illustrated on the previous page.

The anæsthetics issued under the ‘Wellcome’ Brand denote the highest degree of perfection and purity.

‘WELLCOME’ BRAND PRODUCTS

It is well known that considerable variation exists in the quality and activity of the medicinal chemicals of commerce.

Purity and reliability are matters of the utmost importance to prescriber, dispenser and patient alike, and every opportunity should therefore be taken to ensure the supply of only those chemicals and galenicals which are known to be thoroughly pure and trustworthy.

In order that goods answering to this description in the highest sense may be at the disposal of the profession, Burroughs Wellcome & Co. manufacture and issue a series of fine chemicals, alkaloids, etc., to which they have recently added a series of standardised liquid and granular extracts and concentrated tinctures, under the distinctive title of the ‘Wellcome’ Brand.

The advantages of galenicals containing a definite proportion of active principle over those that vary in strength with every sample of drug employed are now fully recognised, and several such have been admitted into the Pharmacopœia. With regard to galenicals, Burroughs Wellcome & Co. have extended the standardisation by total alkaloid assay, and have never adopted the basis of total extractive, regarding it as misleading and useless. Total alkaloid estimations have been adopted in so far as they secured definite standards of truly representative activity, but the firm has not been content to rely on this means alone. As the result of extensive research, they are able to offer many other standardised preparations in addition to the official ones. Those galenicals which are known to be extremely variable in their character and action, and by their nature do not admit of exact control by chemical means, have been the subject of physiological research. Not being satisfied with the methods hitherto available, special processes of standardisation have been developed which give more complete control over the finished products. This subject is still one of continuous research.