Eve PF. Deaths from the inhalation of sulphuric ether. Am J
Med Sci 35:293, 1849
Deaths from the Inhalation of SuIphuric Ether.-Dr. Paul F. Eve, of Augusta,
relates, in the Southern Med. and Surg. Journ. (June 1849), the two
following cases in which death resulted from tlie inhalation of sulphuric ether.
"CASE I. Mr. J., a member of the class in our college the past winter, and
a candidate for the degree in medicine, inhaled sulphuric ether during the evening of the
3d of last March. The article was obtained from a druggist of good reputation, in quantity
two ounces, and the motive for using it, was its exhilarating effects, which he had
experienced before. It was inhaled from a pocket-handkerchief, renewing or applying it
three times, and about one ounce was supposed to have been consumed. The time of inhaling
it was reported to be considerable, and a companion of Mr. J. removed the handkerchief
suddenly while he was still breathing it. He became then furiously excited, and it
required several persons to control him. He was forced upon a bed, where he soon fell
asleep. A few moments afterwards, another student of medicine, not liking his
breathing, which he reported to be sonorous, awakened him, when he again became much
excited: indeed, so much so that cold water was dashed over him. He now retired to bed,
and nothing special was noticed until the next morning. He awoke perfectly rational, but
complained of great pain in the forehead. This continuing unabated, I was sent for to see
him at 2 P. M., on the 4th. Magnesia and salts in purgative doses, cold applications to
the head, mustard-plaster to the neck, and warm pediluvia were prescribed; with the
expression of the hope that these means would give entire relief. I was again sent for at
8 P. M., and also at 8 A. M., of the 5th, (the next day,) but did not see the patient
until 11 o'clock, three hours after; he had been visited, and prescribed for in the
meantime by Drs. Carter and Dugas-Dr. Ford was subsequently added to the consultation.
Symptoms of meningitis, &c., persisted in spite of all treatment pursued, and our
patient died on the morning of the 7th.
"CASE II. For this I am indebted to a friend :----During a recent visit to
Huntsville, Alabama, among the several excellent professional brethren I met with there,
was Dr. John Y. Bassett, who, among other advantages, had visited Europe. At my request,
he kindly furnished the particulars of a case of tetanus to which he was called on
the 15th of August, 1847. In the progress of it, Dr. Fearn, whose reputation is well known
throughout our country, and who has twice been elected to a professorship in our Medical
Colleges, was called into consultation. He proposed the actual cautery and the inhalation
of sulphuric ether. Dr. B. says, at this time the patient's pulse was good, and there were
no signs of immediate extinction of life I heated my cautery, and sent for a dentist who
was in the habit of administerng the ether. I gave a watch to the owner of the negro
affected with lock-jaw, and requested him to speak at every quarter of a minute. In one
minute, the patient was under its influence; in a quarter more he was dead----beyond
all my efforts to produce artificial respiration, or restore life. All present thought he
died from inhaling the ether."