Chloroform as an obstetrical anesthetic: A report of 18,302 cases

Abstract

We have conducted a survey of 22,724 consecutive deliveries, 18,302 of them under chloroform anesthesia either alone or in combination with another agent. Of the maternal deaths in this group, none is directly attributed to the anesthetic agent. We do not propose chloroform as the ideal anesthetic. We feel, however, that its several advantages deserve reappraisal in the light of modern obstetrics and proper administration and should not be lost sight of because of ancient prejudice. If chloroform were to be studied as a new agent by current methods of investigation, along with modern obstetrical techniques, its effectiveness and acceptance might rival that of any of the new agents. A recent favorable report by Lenahan and Babbage8 is a study of chloroform in a modern setting. Irving W. Potter9 of Buffalo has used chloroform as his anesthetic of choice in approximately 30,000 deliveries, and continues to use it. We repeat that our observations are purely clinical and we are indebted to others for laboratory work which supports out findings