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would ensue, and the apparatus being too small, so that aconsiderable portion of atmospheric air was commingled withthe ether, the whole was removed, and the animal recoveredits usual state: the quantity of ether consumed was twelveOunces.Second Experiment. - A bay carriage-horse, in high con-

dition, of gentle temperament, and without any apparentdisease, was submitted to the vapour. After the apparatuswas adjusted, ten ounces of ether was put into the receivers;in two minutes and a half the animal fell, but not until hehad turned about many times, partially falling, and stag-gering up again, throwing himself about most furiously, andat last falling with a crash, so as to induce fears that con-siderable mischief must ensue. The breathing was tremen-dously increased, every muscle connected with respiration inintense action. The effect of the ether was kept up as well ascould be managed, for in falling, one of the receptacles wastorn off, and the opening was obliged to be closed by the hand,but sufficient effect was produced for the horse to keep hislimbs tolerably still for about half a minute, and on beingpricked with a sharp instrument did not show any signs ofsensation; upon rising, he reeled and staggered about for afew minutes, and on this subsiding it did not appear to befollowed by any bad effects !Third Experiment.-A black horse, of medium size, was

put under the influence of the vapour. The apparatus (a newone) was, when adjusted, charged with twelve ounces of ether,which almost immediately produced a marked effect-heavingof the flanks, staring of the eyes, loud and laborious breathing,a constant shuffling, as if about to fall, reeling, staggering,partially falling, and at last falling with violence: this occu-pied seven minutes: when down, a series of most violentstruggles commenced. It did not appear that the ether hadthe effect of stopping them, as the charged apparatus was notremoved for three or four minutes after falling. The experi-ment lasted fifteen minutes, and the recovery, occupying fivelonger, was the same as in the experiment number two; andalmost immediately the horse began kicking out and eating ,,some hay from amongst the straw on which he had fallen. ,

In each of these three cases it was pretty clear that theapparatus was not sufficiently perfect to exclude atmospheric air, and it was presumed that the common air being mixedwith the etherized vapour, produced these violent symptoms.Fourth Experiment.—After an interval of forty-eight hours,

the same animal as in the last instance was again put underits influence. The apparatus now employed was rendered asperfect as could be to exclude the atmospheric air. No badsymptoms manifesting themselves on the animal being closelyexamined, the apparatus was adjusted, and carefully inspected,to see that nothing that could in any way interfere with thesuccess of the experiment existed. Being satisfied on thispoint, the receptacle was charged with ten ounces of ether.The same symptoms as before were evinced ; but in oneminute and a half the horse fell, as in the former instances,with violence. A good straw bed had been prepared, andguide-ropes were attached to the head, in order to preventthe danger so much to be dreaded from the violent plunging,and in falling down. A few symptoms of violence wereevinced, the air-valve was opened for about a minute, thenclosed, and the vapour was again inhaled. The labour ofbreathing became terrific, and so continued for about aminute and a half. There did not seem to be any sense offeeling, when a sudden drawing up of the hind-legs showedthat something was going on wrong, though of what naturewe could not tell. The apparatus was removed, a few loudbreathings followed; all became suddenly still; life was ex-tinct within six minutes from the commencement of the ex-periment ; this was at ten A.M. The quantity of ether con-sumed was six ounces.Autapsy, three p.m.-We attended the post-mortem exami-

nation in full expectation of finding some organic change inthe principal organs of life; such as would be likely to beaffected by such a powerful agent, and which, under feeblepowers of life arising from organic disease, would yield underextraordinary influence: not so, however; every organ was re-markably healthy. The bowels were enormously distendedwith flatus. On opening the abdomen a strong smell of etherwas emitted, but not any could be detected in the contents ofthe stomach; the diaphragm was ruptured to the extent of atleast a foot and a half; the pericardium was found distendedwith blood, which in quantity must have been at least eightpounds; the lungs were turgid with black blood, and smeltvery powerfully of ether; the heart being removed, we mi-nutely examined into the situation of the evident lesion, andfound that an angular rent, full an inch in length, had occurred

just immediately beyond the origin of the aorta, and above thesemilunar valves, and within that portion which is included inthe pericardium, otherwise there would have been bloodeffused into the thorax, which there was not.The part exhibiting the lesion is in the possession of Mr.

Alexander Henderson, junior, M.R.C.V.S., of Park-lane, whowill be happy to show the same should any one wish to exa-mine it.

Remarks.—By these experiments, two points of great im-portance have been proved. By the first three, that unlesssome ready means of regulating the quantity of vapour andthe rapidity with which it is inhaled, it is not sufficientlyunder control to be generally practised. There is, in the ap-plication of a regulating power, one serious obstacle to beovercome-that is, the violence of the animal renderingapproach dangerous.The last experiment, though fatal in its result, is of the

utmost value. It proves that pure vapour of ether cannot beinhaled without the most imminent risk; and though we havebeen informed, on good authority, that the apparatus wasagain tested on the same day, and produced its full effect inone minute and three quarters, yet it appears that it was notentirely without risk; the violence was as great as what wewitnessed ; and though the apparatus was removed imme-diately after the horse fell, the effect lasted for some fourminutes afterwards: it is stated that the pulse rose to 120 perminute, and the horse slowly recovered.The rupture of the diaphragm and of the aorta was no

doubt the result of the violent action of the respiratory organs;and, in all probability, the diaphragm was the first torn, andthat the aorta gave way at the time the hind legs were sud-denly drawn up.We are of opinion that neither of these lesions were pro-

duced by the act of falling, but were the result of powerfullyexcited respiration.Our next observations will be for the purpose of ascertain-

ing to what extent the difficulties which we have related canbe met or removed, the question being too important to beallowed to rest without the fullest inquiry.

Apologizing for the unavoidable length to which this accounthas run, we are, your obedient servants,

ALEX. HENDERSON,Veterinary Surgeon to the Queen Dowager.

W. ARTHUR CHERRY, M.R.C.V.S.London, March, 1847.

THE INQUEST AT GRANTHAM.To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SiR,—In reading the account of an inquest, lately held atSpittlegate, in Lincolnshire, on the body of a woman whodied from the effects of the inhalation of ether, I perceivethat the surgeon caused her to inhale the vapour three timesbefore he began the operation, (the removal of a tumour fromthe thigh,)-viz., on the 6th, 8th, and 9th of March. It ap-pears that, after the first administration of the ether, shebecame hysterical; from the second, she completely lost thepower of vision, and complained of headach for many hoursafterwards; and the third inhalation was attended with fatalresults. Is it not probable that she was kept too long underits influence ? And might not the operation have been success-fully performed after the first or second inhalation ?

Although, this disastrous case would not justify the profes-sion in relinquishing the use of this agent for the preventionof pain during surgical operations, it nevertheless clearlyshows the danger attendant upon the repeated inhalations ofether, (recommended by some,) for the purpose of preparingpatients to undergo operations.-I remain, Sir, your obedient

I servant, R. STEWART, M.R.C.S.Park Crescent, Torquay, March, 1847.

House of Commons.

THE MEDICAL REGISTRATION & REFORM BILL.

[From the " Notices of Motions" which now stand on the " OrderBook" of the House.]

"On Tuesday, April 20th:-MR. WAKLEY to move for leave to bring in a Bill to

provide for the Registration of legally-qualified Practitionersin Medicine, and to amend the law relating to the Practice of £

Medicine in Great Britain and Ireland."