Chloroform Committee

Chloroform Committee is a historical committee established in the United Kingdom in the mid-19th century. The committee was tasked with investigating the safety and efficacy of chloroform as an anesthetic in surgical procedures.

The Chloroform Committee, 1864

History

The Chloroform Committee was established in 1864 by the Medical and Chirurgical Society of London. The committee was formed in response to concerns about the safety of chloroform, which had been introduced as a general anesthetic in 1847 by James Young Simpson. Despite its widespread use, there were numerous reports of sudden death associated with chloroform anesthesia, leading to public and professional anxiety.

Members

The committee was composed of eminent physicians and surgeons of the time, including John Snow, who is considered one of the founders of modern epidemiology, and Joseph Clover, a pioneer in anesthetic equipment design.

Findings

The Chloroform Committee conducted extensive research, including animal experiments and collection of case reports. The committee's report, published in 1864, concluded that chloroform was a powerful and valuable anesthetic but could be dangerous if administered improperly. The report recommended that chloroform should be administered only by trained individuals and that its use should be avoided in certain high-risk patients.

Legacy

The work of the Chloroform Committee had a significant impact on the practice of anesthesia. It led to greater recognition of the need for specialist training in anesthesia and contributed to the development of safer anesthetic techniques and equipment.

See also

• History of anesthesia
• Medical and Chirurgical Society of London
• James Young Simpson
• John Snow
• Joseph Clover