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Chloroform: The Quest for Oblivion
Right up until the 19th century, physicians and philosophers regarded sleep as a state of near-oblivion in which there was no mental activity, a kind of halfway stage between wakefulness and death. For the Victorians, therefore, when anaesthesia was first practised, it was commonly seen as traumatic - for doctors were being asked to induce a condition looked upon as partial death. Viewed with suspicion, many feared that they would never wake again, or that they would lose their faculties on a permanent basis, even become insane. childbirth, its use to block out pain became widespread. This engaging and entertaining book traces the social, medical and criminal history of chloroform, from early medical practices to create oblivion through the discovery of chloroform and its discovery, its use and misuse in the 19th century, to the present. Today chloroform is no longer used as an anaesthetic, but has a multitude of uses in industry and medical research, including a role in DNA profiling. A by-product of the chlorination of water, we inhale infinitesimal amounts of chloroform every time we have a shower.
273 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
About the author
Linda Stratmann
45 books68 followersLinda Stratmann is a British writer of historical true crime, biography and crime fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 3, 2020
I do love a bit of random history. Just getting really niche and right into the heart of a subject. I am also finding myself increasingly fascinated by the 1800s, and as this is primarily an 1800s history, it really was up my street. To a point this book is as its title suggests - it's the history of chloroform. But quest for oblivion? One might be forgiven for thinking it's about drug abuse. Mainly its about chloroform in its medical application as anaesthetic.
Linda takes us through its history, from the pioneers who discovered it by mixing up chemicals in their stills in barns, and half blowing themselves up in the process, to the eureka moment in the mid 1800s when it could be used as a general anaesthetic and all the troubles that caused, use on the battlefield in the field hospitals, to the odd bit of crime - odd bits of abduction and rape attempts (but contrary to the films, jamming a cloth of chloroform in someone's face doesn't knock them out immediately. You'd have to wait about 5 minutes), out and out murder, to its demise in medical circles and where you'll come across it now. Which actually made me laugh, no wonder showers are relaxing. It's the Victorian medical use which takes the main focus of the book, with a few notable characters and the English-Scottish disagreement over how to use it and how safe it was: John Snow of Yorkshire working down in London (you know nothing, John Snow!) and James Simpson up in Edinburgh, who intially brought chloroform to the medical profession's attention. And this was all in the good old pioneering days, when doctors working out its affects, how much to use, how to administer it etc was done on self experimentation. There's a lot in here that will make your toes curl. Consider that before this marvellous introduction the main anaesthetic available was a couple of leather straps on a board and a couple of big blokes to hold you down. We're not just talking a bit of dentistry, but amputation, tumour removal, bladder stones.... It doesn't bare thinking about. And how some of the medical profession were anti anaesthetic, thinking the pain was a stimulant helping people get better. Depressingly helping women came lowest on the list, doctors convinced the pain of childbirth was there for a reason and it should all be left to nature. Now, we've moved on a lot since those good old days, but thinking about it, there's still a bit of peddling against pain relief, particularly with labour even today. I wonder what people in 100 years time will think of medical practices today, and what we've had done to us will make people's toes curl.
Linda takes us through its history, from the pioneers who discovered it by mixing up chemicals in their stills in barns, and half blowing themselves up in the process, to the eureka moment in the mid 1800s when it could be used as a general anaesthetic and all the troubles that caused, use on the battlefield in the field hospitals, to the odd bit of crime - odd bits of abduction and rape attempts (but contrary to the films, jamming a cloth of chloroform in someone's face doesn't knock them out immediately. You'd have to wait about 5 minutes), out and out murder, to its demise in medical circles and where you'll come across it now. Which actually made me laugh, no wonder showers are relaxing. It's the Victorian medical use which takes the main focus of the book, with a few notable characters and the English-Scottish disagreement over how to use it and how safe it was: John Snow of Yorkshire working down in London (you know nothing, John Snow!) and James Simpson up in Edinburgh, who intially brought chloroform to the medical profession's attention. And this was all in the good old pioneering days, when doctors working out its affects, how much to use, how to administer it etc was done on self experimentation. There's a lot in here that will make your toes curl. Consider that before this marvellous introduction the main anaesthetic available was a couple of leather straps on a board and a couple of big blokes to hold you down. We're not just talking a bit of dentistry, but amputation, tumour removal, bladder stones.... It doesn't bare thinking about. And how some of the medical profession were anti anaesthetic, thinking the pain was a stimulant helping people get better. Depressingly helping women came lowest on the list, doctors convinced the pain of childbirth was there for a reason and it should all be left to nature. Now, we've moved on a lot since those good old days, but thinking about it, there's still a bit of peddling against pain relief, particularly with labour even today. I wonder what people in 100 years time will think of medical practices today, and what we've had done to us will make people's toes curl.
June 13, 2022
Nicely researched, well documented.
For me, it is a personal journey into the history of Medicine, where the pieces are finally falling into the correct places.
Only problem with the book I found is: It is a bit dry, compared to the likes of Bill Bryson, Sam Kean, etc.
For me, it is a personal journey into the history of Medicine, where the pieces are finally falling into the correct places.
Only problem with the book I found is: It is a bit dry, compared to the likes of Bill Bryson, Sam Kean, etc.
October 9, 2013
My feelings on this book are mixed. It's not a bad book. It's not even dreadfully dull. But it also felt scattered in its approach and almost dizzying with the number of names it introduces, and didn't live up to my expectations.
Chloroform is a fascinating subject matter. It's a powerful anesthetic. It's a tool of rapists and murderers. I was intrigued by the early debates against chloroform, especially regarding its use in labor--that a woman should experience pain, because it's God's edict against Eve. This was countered by one of my early champions of chloroform who pointed out that God sedated Adam while his rib was removed, so God understood the subject. However, too much of the book ended up covering the squabbles of Scotland versus London among their medical schools, and about ether versus chloroform. The book gains more focus near the end as it details scandalous Victorian cases where anesthesia was abused, including the infamous Holmes of Chicago, a mass murderer during the Chicago World's Fair (though I don't think that fact was even mentioned in this book; I know about Holmes from Devil in the White City).
I had hoped this book would provide useful medical material for research purposes, but it didn't. My existing book on Civil War medicine is just as useful, and has far more pictures.
Chloroform is a fascinating subject matter. It's a powerful anesthetic. It's a tool of rapists and murderers. I was intrigued by the early debates against chloroform, especially regarding its use in labor--that a woman should experience pain, because it's God's edict against Eve. This was countered by one of my early champions of chloroform who pointed out that God sedated Adam while his rib was removed, so God understood the subject. However, too much of the book ended up covering the squabbles of Scotland versus London among their medical schools, and about ether versus chloroform. The book gains more focus near the end as it details scandalous Victorian cases where anesthesia was abused, including the infamous Holmes of Chicago, a mass murderer during the Chicago World's Fair (though I don't think that fact was even mentioned in this book; I know about Holmes from Devil in the White City).
I had hoped this book would provide useful medical material for research purposes, but it didn't. My existing book on Civil War medicine is just as useful, and has far more pictures.
August 19, 2012
Great read. Excellent science history. Fascinating tales, although some a little oblique to the topic at hand. Would recommend for anyone interested in chemistry, history, and even a bit of detective-like intrigue!
August 27, 2019
Stratmann’s book tells the story of the rise, fall, and debauchment of the anesthetic known as chloroform. As such, most of the book -- particularly in the first half -- is a medical history that offers detailed discussion of the debates that went on between doctors as to whether chloroform was the best form of anesthesia available, or whether an alternative approach was superior. (Contenders include: ether, nitrous oxide, or the old-fashioned approach of no anesthesia whatsoever.) The book also discusses a number of cases in which chloroform was used in the commission of a crime, or was speculated to have been. On the topic of vice, the use of chloroform as a recreational drug is also described. For those who aren’t medical historians, the explorations of chloroform in crime, vice, and licentiousness are where the book gets intriguing, and they tend to take place in the latter half of the book. [That makes sense from a chronological perspective as it took some time before laypeople became aware of the range of uses of this substance.]
The book is well-written and follows the intrigue. That said, it’s definitely a niche work. I came at it from the strange direction of one who is interested in consciousness (and, by extension, how it is lost.) This book could appeal to those interested in the history of medicine, true crime, or recreational drugs, but, regardless, it’s a niche within those niche fields.
The book has graphics, annotations, a bibliography, and even an appendix that describes the chemistry of chloroform. It comes with all the bells-and-whistles one might expect of a scholarly book, but tells a story skillfully. The author is neither a journalist nor a scientist, but she seems to have done an extremely thorough job of research.
If you only read one book on the history of chloroform this year, make it this one. [Disclaimer: As far as I know, this is the only history of chloroform, and it’s certainly the only one that I’ve read to date.]
The book is well-written and follows the intrigue. That said, it’s definitely a niche work. I came at it from the strange direction of one who is interested in consciousness (and, by extension, how it is lost.) This book could appeal to those interested in the history of medicine, true crime, or recreational drugs, but, regardless, it’s a niche within those niche fields.
The book has graphics, annotations, a bibliography, and even an appendix that describes the chemistry of chloroform. It comes with all the bells-and-whistles one might expect of a scholarly book, but tells a story skillfully. The author is neither a journalist nor a scientist, but she seems to have done an extremely thorough job of research.
If you only read one book on the history of chloroform this year, make it this one. [Disclaimer: As far as I know, this is the only history of chloroform, and it’s certainly the only one that I’ve read to date.]
September 10, 2020
I practiced obstetric anesthesia for five years so it was book of my interest. It is very astonishing for me that there are so many historical dimensions of one anesthetic like Chloroform. I used Chloroform only in animals for dissecting them. I have never seen any human case anaesthetised by Chloroform. But it played a great role in what anesthesia today.
It was pleasant experience to know many historical part of anesthesia especially in indian contest.
It was pleasant experience to know many historical part of anesthesia especially in indian contest.
July 17, 2019
It's quite a feat that with so much history of anesthesia covered that Linda Stratmann never lulls the reader to sleep. This is such an entertaining and informative read at the beginning, especially when she writes about the discovery of first Mandragora, then Diethyl Ether and Chloroform centuries later. You find out there was so much incredibly dangerous scientific trial and error until 'sweet whiskey' i.e.: Chloroform was discovered. As I know from personal experience - it's a long story - Chloroform's a very dangerous compound and thank goodness it isn't used anymore in modern day medicine but the author explains in the last few chapters how this chemical's still being used just about everywhere today.
March 22, 2026
I really wanted to like this book. it was recommended to me by a coworker. it had some boring and repetitive chapters though
February 4, 2015
I didn't know how little I knew about the history of chloroform (trichloromethane) as THE modus of anaesthesia in the nineteenth (and twentieth) centuries ... until I read this book.
The author cleverly teases her reader by first establishing the question of establishment of a safe dosage (and the progressive invention of medical devices to administer a known dosage) given the significant number of healthy patients who inexplicably died during the process of anaesthesia. The social and medical history of how that fatal unknown eventually, after many years, became known, is exquisitely told here tantalisingly piece by piece, until the answer becomes 'obvious' from hindsight: a salutary reminder of how human nature prefers not to attempt to systematically assess the risk of a process which offers an intensely desirable end result (surgery under anaesthesia). Will be able to look back and say the same about the use of mobile ‘phones, I wonder?
This book really is a grippingly good read! .Nowadays we take anaesthesia for granted (which we should not, there is always a risk). This book reminds us how very tough, painful, and short, life used to be. It also reminds us of the downsides to every upside: chloroform was also employed to facilitate theft, rape, and murder. Indeed a number of the chapters in this book would appeal to those readers purely interested in criminal cases of the nineteenth century (for example: Carden, Bartlett, Glover, Daly, Holmes, Patrick & Jones, etc).
Ms Stratmann doesn’t let us forget that chloroform was recommended as an anaesthetic to the Third World well into the late twentieth century; because it is cheap, easily stored, and is portable. She then brings us completely up to date with present day industrial uses of this organic solvent.
This book is very satisfyingly completed by an index, a valuable bibliography, an appendix on the chemistry of chloroform, a glossary, and notes (references to the text).
The author cleverly teases her reader by first establishing the question of establishment of a safe dosage (and the progressive invention of medical devices to administer a known dosage) given the significant number of healthy patients who inexplicably died during the process of anaesthesia. The social and medical history of how that fatal unknown eventually, after many years, became known, is exquisitely told here tantalisingly piece by piece, until the answer becomes 'obvious' from hindsight: a salutary reminder of how human nature prefers not to attempt to systematically assess the risk of a process which offers an intensely desirable end result (surgery under anaesthesia). Will be able to look back and say the same about the use of mobile ‘phones, I wonder?
This book really is a grippingly good read! .Nowadays we take anaesthesia for granted (which we should not, there is always a risk). This book reminds us how very tough, painful, and short, life used to be. It also reminds us of the downsides to every upside: chloroform was also employed to facilitate theft, rape, and murder. Indeed a number of the chapters in this book would appeal to those readers purely interested in criminal cases of the nineteenth century (for example: Carden, Bartlett, Glover, Daly, Holmes, Patrick & Jones, etc).
Ms Stratmann doesn’t let us forget that chloroform was recommended as an anaesthetic to the Third World well into the late twentieth century; because it is cheap, easily stored, and is portable. She then brings us completely up to date with present day industrial uses of this organic solvent.
This book is very satisfyingly completed by an index, a valuable bibliography, an appendix on the chemistry of chloroform, a glossary, and notes (references to the text).
June 8, 2009
This started out well, but after a very detailed account of the first hundred or so years of chloroform use and all is pitfalls and controversies, it ended quite abruptly. It was around 1900 and then suddenly it was like, "So, this is the state of chloroform today..." It was like the author got tired of writing. I would have given the book four stars if it weren't for the hasty ending, which left me hanging.
February 12, 2009
I loved this book. It's very accessible without being over-vague. It's basically the history of the discovery and use of chloroform as an anaesthetic, and a little debunking of that old standby, "Does this smell like choloroform to you?" Pretty cool.
July 24, 2010
A fascinating and well-researched look at an interesting chapter in medical history
January 5, 2013
An essential addition to any history of surgery, anaesthesia, or pharmacy. Well-written and far more lively than its soporific subject matter.
September 8, 2015
A litte repetitive, but interesting, nonetheless.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews