Dr. Kreutzmann (Cent. f. Gyn.) recommends a mixture of oxygen and
chloroform vapors as an anæsthetic in obstetric and surgical practice.
The mixture may be made by passing freshly prepared and pure oxygen
through chloroform on its way to the inhaler. Neudörfer injects a small
quantity of chloroform into a balloon filled with oxygen, administering
through a face piece. It is claimed for this method, that anæsthesia is
at once established after a few deep inspirations without the least
excitement, and that there are no disagreeable after-effects, the
patient awaking promptly on ceasing the anæsthetic as from a refreshing
sleep.
* * * * *
Veit, of Berlin, has operated in seven cases of tubal pregnancy before
rupture, in all successfully.
Breisky, of Vienna, has recently performed the first successful
laparotomy for the removal of an ectopic viable fœtus in which all the
fœtal appendages were at the same time removed. The operation was done
at the end of the eighth month. Breisky advocates primary laparotomy
with extirpation of the entire sac in preference to the secondary
operation.
Brunniche (Cent. f. Gyn.) treated a case of vomiting of pregnancy
successfully by feeding the patient through a tube introduced into the
upper part of the œsophagus.
Duncan (London Lancet) reports three cases of hyperemesis in which
complete relief followed the application of cocaine in five per cent.
solution to the vaginal vault and cervix.
Saenger says the process of uterine involution is not a fatty
degeneration but normal metabolism.
Dr. Temple, of Toronto, Canada, in a case of post-partum hæmorrhage, hot
water and other measures having failed, injected the uterus with a
tumblerful of undiluted brandy. Prompt contractions and arrest of
hæmorrhage followed.